摘要：The EU is prioritizing negotiations to address the trade conflict, while it also prepared to “accelerate our work on the defensive

TMTPOST -- The European Union on Monday warned it would impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States if the trade talks with the Trump administration fail to reach any desired deal.

Credit：Xinhua News Agency

The EU is prioritizing negotiations to address the trade conflict, while it also prepared to “accelerate our work on the defensive side” if trade negotiations with the U.S. fail, European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters in Brussels on Monday.

“If no mutually acceptable solution is reached, both the existing and possible additional EU counter-measures will automatically take effect on July 14 or earlier if circumstances require,” Gill said. “The commission has been clear at all times about its readiness to act in defense of EU interests protecting our workers, consumers and industry.”

The EU felt “strongly” regretful for U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to hike steel tariffs and the move is undermining efforts to reach a solution to the conflict, said Gill.

The EU’s warning was made ahead of new round of transatlantic discussions over trade. Gill said Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s trade chief, will meet with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday in Paris, and Commission technical teams will talk with counterparts in Washington this week.

The EU has suspended enforcement of countermeasures targeting more than €20 billion U.S. imports in April. The EU members on April 9 have voted in favour of the European Commission's proposal to introduce trade countermeasures against tariffs on steel and aluminum imports imposed by the United States.The European Commission estimated a total of nearly €21 billion worth of goods imported from the U.S. will be affected.

Trump said later April 9 in the post he has authorized a 90-day pause and “a substantially lowered reciprocal tariff” of 10% during this period, both effective immediately. The decision was made as more than 75 countries have called the U.S. to negotiate a solution to trade, trade barriers, tariffs, currency manipulation, and non-monetary tariffs, and these countries have not retaliated against the U.S., Trump wrote.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on April 10 the EU will put its countermeasures over U.S. tariffs on hold for 90 days.

The EU has readied for possible countermeasures in case of failure to reach agreements with the Trump administration.The European Commission on May 8 said it has launched a public consultation on a list of US imports for the possible EU countermeasures, if ongoing EU-U.S. negotiations do not result in a mutually beneficial outcome and the removal of the US tariffs. The list of U.S. goods, which could be subject to the countermeasures, is totally worth of €95 billion, covering a broad range of industrial and agricultural products.

Trump on May 23 vowed to slap a 50% tariff starting on June 1 as negotiations between the EU and the United Sates “going nowhere.” However, after a phone with von der Leyen,Trump on May 25 said he would hold off until July 9, the same deadline as Trump’s 90-day pause of his proposed 20% reciprocal tariffs on EU that is set to end.

In a post on X on May 25, von der Leyen said “Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively”, adding that “to reach a good deal” needs the time until July 9.

来源：钛媒体