The European Union (EU) is demanding that the United States exempt preemptive tariffs applied to certain institutional sectors as soon as a comprehensive trade agreement is concluded.
According to Politico Europe on 1st (local time), the EU is requesting the United States to promise that tariffs will not be imposed during the detailed negotiation process after reaching a broad agreement before the deadline for tariff negotiations. Many EU member countries believe that no agreement is possible if this measure is not implemented.
The EU's executive body, the European Commission, holds full authority over trade policies for the 27 member countries. However, it is customary to gather the opinions of member states during external negotiations.
Member countries maintained a basic tariff of 10%, but demanded that tariffs on specific items such as automobiles and steel be exempted from the time of the comprehensive agreement. This is similar to the agreement made earlier between the United Kingdom and the United States.
EU member country ambassadors reportedly urged Maroš Šefčovič, the EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, to take a firm stance during a closed meeting held the previous day ahead of his upcoming visit to the United States.
Commissioner Šefčovič is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the 3rd in the United States. It appears that Commissioner Šefčovič hopes for a reduction in tariffs but is likely to convey that he could accept maintaining the basic tariff under certain conditions.
However, there are criticisms that the difference in positions among EU member states is reducing the negotiating power of the executive body. For example, while Germany prioritizes a quick agreement even if the negotiation conditions are insufficient, France takes a firm stance that imbalanced conditions should not be accepted.
However, it is unclear whether Trump will accept this. Given that Trump has boasted about achieving visible diplomatic results, such as a temporary ceasefire in disputes with China and a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, there are also observations that he might pursue negotiations in a more hardline direction in the future.