Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Union negotiators are hoping that agreeing to 10% Washington tariffs on all the bloc’s exports to the United States will prevent any higher duties on cars, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, which reported on Monday.
The latest round of discussions regarding tariffs took place in early June 2025 between the European Union and the United States. Following discussions between EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in early June, EU officials expressed restrained optimism about progress in negotiations.
Will EU concessions prevent harsher US tariffs?
According to top EU negotiators cited by a German newspaper, the offer to the U.S. would only come with certain conditions and wouldn’t be presented as a permanent solution.
Handelsblatt also noted that the EU is willing to reduce its tariffs on vehicles made in the US and possibly adjust technical or legal barriers to make it easier for US manufacturers to sell their cars in Europe.
What role does Russian gas play in talks?
Brussels has also offered to completely ban purchases of Russian natural gas, potentially creating more demand for U.S. producers. The EU’s position comes partly from the realisation that Trump will rely on some tariff revenues to fund planned tax cuts. U.S. negotiators, however, have so far not agreed to limit their import duties on EU cars to 10%, the paper added.
When and why did the trade tensions start between both parties?
In 2025, Trump imposed and threatened tariffs on several EU imports, escalating trade tensions considerably. He began by imposing a twenty per cent reciprocal tariff on goods from the EU in April, and then he began threatening to impose a fifty per cent tariff on all imports from the EU, starting June 1, 2025.
After news of stalled trade negotiations, as well as a significant US trade deficit with the EU, were presented, he imposed tariffs. He even suggested tariffs of twenty-five per cent on Apple products unless manufacturing returned to the US.
After speaking with President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, Trump agreed to the 50% tariff’s implementation starting on July 9, 2025, to allow more time for diplomacy and discussion.
Despite this delay, he indicated he would soon send unilateral tariff rate letters to trading partners, including the EU, setting country-specific rates that could become a “take it or leave it” deal.
