The Union offers mutual zero duties. Leyen: I'm ready for negotiations

The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that the EU offered the United States a total mutual release from the duties of industrial goods and that although “she did not meet with an adequate reaction”, she is still ready to negotiate with Washington.

The head of the EC admitted on Monday in Brussels that the complete release from duties of industrial goods was, among others the subject of commercial conversations conducted in Washington by the EU Commissioner for Trade Marosz Department.

Von der Leyen said that a similar offer of mutual zero duties has been proposed to American administration before, during talks regarding the application of 25 %. customs duties on the EU cars, but “has not met with an adequate US reaction.”

The chairwoman of the EC admitted, however, that the offer “is still on the table“And that the EU” is always ready for a good arrangement. “Von der Leyen added, however, that the EU is in parallel preparing a potential list of retaliation duties.” We are also prepared to respond with remedies (like retaliation – PAP) and to defend our interests. In addition, we will also protect ourselves from the indirect effects of customs, “she said.

Von der Leyen also announced the establishment of a special task supervision group, which will cooperate with the industry, including in order to minimize the effects of American duties.

The head of the EC admitted that he herself also has intensive talks with the European industry and that on Monday morning she has already met in representatives of the steel and aluminum sector and organizations of entrepreneurs, and in the afternoon she will take talks with the automotive sector. On Tuesday, he will meet with the pharmaceutical industry.

“We discuss the reaction to customs imposed by the United States, as well as other pillars of our industrial strategy: strengthening the uniform market by lifting trade barriers and diversification of our trade relations,” said von der Leyen.

She admitted that the EU is going to focus on the remaining 83 percent. World trade outside the USA. “That is why we deepen our relations with trading partners: for example, we have concluded contracts with Mercosuru, Mexico, Switzerland, and also cooperate with India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and many other countries,” said the politician.

At a meeting of EU ministers, agree that negotiations have to be continued

At the Monday EU ministerial meeting in Luxembourg there was agreement that the EU should continue talks with the USA on trade.

“We are currently at an early stage of the discussion, because the US perceives tariffs not as a tactical step, but as a repair.

Deputy Minister of Development Michał Baranowski announced at the conference after the meeting that representatives of all Member States emphasized that the US decision to impose additional duties on the EU would certainly hit American consumers, but it will not be good for Europe either.

He added that The goal is to maintain “Plan A”, i.e. commitment to talks with the USA, while “Plan B”, a potential response to American tariffsis another possible step. “Our goal is certainly not escalation, but negotiations,” said the Polish minister.

Bept at the meeting reported his negotiations with the American side in Washington. However, his mission in the US capital did not end with an agreement.

The Commissioner repeated at a conference in Luxembourg earlier words of the head of the EC Ursula von der Leyen that the commission offered the US authorities to be mutual zero duties on cars and all industrial goods.

He emphasized that although the EU remains open to negotiations and definitely prefers them, he would not wait forever and would defend its interests. (PAP)

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