Trade talks between the European Union and the United States are showing progress despite the recent decision by President Donald Trump's administration to double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50%. These tariffs came into effect on June 4, 2025 and exclude only the United Kingdom, which has a preliminary trade agreement with the United States, Reuters reports.
After a meeting in Paris between European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, both sides expressed optimism about the progress of the talks. Šefčovič stressed that the discussions were constructive and that real progress was being made, despite the complications arising from the new tariffs. He also expressed regret over the decision to increase tariffs, noting that the EU and the US share common challenges, such as overcapacity in steel production, and need to work together to address them.
The Trump administration is pushing trading partners to submit their best offers by June 4 to avoid broader tariffs that could take effect in early July. While the UK is the only country to have reached a preliminary agreement, other trading partners, including the EU, are continuing negotiations, with technical talks taking place in Washington and high-level meetings planned for the near future.
Meanwhile, global trade tensions are escalating, with China imposing restrictions on rare earth exports, leading to production halts at some European car plants and prompting warnings from companies such as BMW about the impact on supply chains.
Despite these challenges, both the EU and the US are committed to finding mutually beneficial solutions and avoiding an escalation of the trade conflict.