EU would rather negotiate US tariffs, but will start collecting duties in one week
"Sooner or later, we will sit at the negotiation table with the U.S. and find a mutually acceptable compromise," EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told a news conference.
He also said the EU would start would start collecting a first tranche of targeted retaliatory duties on U.S. imports from April 15 and a second wave from May 15, in reaction to the U.S. tariffs on European steel and aluminium.
He also made clear that while preferring to negotiate the removal of the tariffs with the U.S., the EU was ready to step up its response. This could include the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), which would allow it to target U.S. services or to limit U.S. companies' access to public procurement tenders in the EU.
I see this as doubling down on not being responsible for this mess, giving Trump a way out. Personally don't think he'll take any deal proposed by the EU, but who knows. With this proposal, EU and national leaders can rightfully say they did their best to mitigate the damage. Here's how Von Der Leyen said it:
I agree. On social media they posted this:
https://ec.social-network.europa.eu/@EUCommission/114297268233791229
They need to use his language and call it a "deal".
Well, it'd only be a deal, if it was very advantageous and good for us, but bad for the US - if they're really trying to speak his language ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It sure makes Trump look bad, putting the diplomatic ball in his court.
But how is that any different from how all of Trump's foreign dealings played out these last weeks? And how did he react? 🤷