On Monday, EU trade ministers gathered at an extraordinary meeting in Luxembourg to deal with EU trade relations with the United States.
Finland was represented by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development at the meeting TAVIO CITY (ps.).
The minister said that the EU’s first retaliations, ie EUR 26 billion, will be released on Wednesday.
The Commission gives a list of retaliation to the EU Member States as early as Monday night. According to Tavio, it will be accepted at the Trade Committee on Wednesday.
Tavio said that the Commission has assured that retaliation does not treat any member of the Member States disproportionately.
“I do not know that there are points that would treat Finland disproportionately,” Tavio says.
He told about US tariff retaliation and EU policies at a news conference to Finnish media after a meeting of EU trade ministers.
The Commission has previously announced that the first phase newcomers would hit American whiskey, jeans and motorcycles, but the final list of actions will be revealed on Wednesday.
In addition to the 25 % steel and aluminum duties prescribed by Trump, the United States has imposed 25 % duties for cars and car parts, and last week’s new 20 % import duties, which are expected to enter into force on Wednesday.
For cars and 20 % additional duties, the content and actions of counter -sanctions are still open.
According to Tavio, the background discussions have drawn attention to the fact that “items that are essential for safety, manufacturing, supply and energy would not be included in additional duties.”
On Monday, EU trade ministers emphasized that the selection of new counter -measures would be discussed with open mind but prudently.
Tavio, on the other hand, emphasized that in the customs negotiations it is important that the EU remains uniform. According to him, it is not in anyone’s interest if a Member State leaves the EU front.
Two decision makers.
On Monday, Robert Habeck, the Minister of Economic and Climate of Germany, was discussing in Luxembourg with Maroš Shfčovič, Commissioner for EU trade negotiations.
Photo: Francois Lenoir, European Union
Zero
Chairman of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen reported on Monday that the EU has provided the United States of freedom of industrial products.
According to von der Leyen Donald Trump He set 20 % duties for products imported from the EU.
A technology miller close to Trump Elon Musk On Saturday, there should be a zero-based free trade area between the EU and the United States.
According to the chairman of the Commission, the Union is still ready to negotiate with the United States of zero -duty, meaning that the offer is still on the table.
According to Tavio, Finland is very positive about the lower customs. However, the minister recalls that the customs level of Finnish trade with the United States is already less than 1 %.
Not interested
The biggest problem in the EU and US trade negotiations is that the United States has not really agreed to negotiate with the EU so far.
Commissioner responsible for the EU trade negotiations, Maroš Šefčovič has tried to start negotiations several times, but to no avail.
According to Tavio, “the atmosphere is still waiting” because the United States has not been received at the conference table.
However, the Finnish Minister believes that after the stock market, the United States now has more and more understanders to the harmfulness of the customs, which can promote the willingness to negotiate the Trump administration.