Any trade deal with US must be based on 'respect not threats', says EU commissioner
Source: The Guardian
Any trade deal with US must be based on ‘respect not threats’, says EU commissioner
Maroš Šefčovič’s remarks come after pace of talks prompted Trump to propose 50% tariff on goods from bloc
Harry Taylor
Sat 24 May 2025 13.08 BST
Last modified on Sat 24 May 2025 13.30 BST
The European Union’s trade chief has struck a defiant tone after Donald Trump threatened to place a 50% tariff on all goods from the bloc, saying any potential trade deal between Brussels and Washington must be based on “respect not threats”.
The US president made his announcement after voicing frustration with the pace of progress on a trade agreement with the EU. The new rates would come into effect from 1 June.
The EU trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, posted on X after a call with the US trade representative Jamieson Greer and the commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick: “The EU’s fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both.
“The European Commission remains ready to work in good faith. EU-US trade is unmatched and must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests.”
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/24/trade-deal-us-respect-not-threats-says-eu-commissioner-maros-sefcovic-trump-tariff