The European Union will respond firmly and swiftly if the United States imposes tariffs on European goods, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said Wednesday, dismissing US President Donald Trump’s claims that the transatlantic trade relationship is unfair.
“It is the very definition of a win-win partnership, and there is nothing unfair,” Sefcovic stated in Washington, as concerns grow over escalating trade tensions.
Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, Sefcovic insisted there was no justification for sudden tariff hikes by the US, stressing that businesses on both sides rely on economic stability and predictability.
While pledging to defend European interests, he also emphasised the EU’s commitment to preventing an all-out trade war. “We will do our best to avoid such an outcome,” he said, urging both sides to act responsibly.
Sefcovic highlighted the economic significance of the EU-US relationship, which accounts for nearly 30 percent of global trade. He also pointed out that the EU remains one of the most open economies in the world, with over 70 percent of imports entering at zero tariffs.
Sefcovic’s remarks come in response to Trump’s renewed threats of sweeping reciprocal tariffs on both allies and adversaries. The US president has accused the EU of being absolutely brutal in trade dealings with the US.
The proposed tariffs would be calculated based on the levies imposed on American goods, as well as taxes that Washington views as discriminatory, such as Europe’s value-added tax (VAT).
While the US has criticised the EU’s higher tariff rate on automobiles, Sefcovic countered that American tariffs are steeper in sectors like agriculture.
Germany’s car lobby has already warned that Trump’s proposed levies could drive up costs for American consumers.
Trump has also intensified pressure on other trade partners, recently hiking tariffs on Chinese goods and announcing sweeping duties on steel and aluminum imports, set to take effect in March.
