The European Commission announced that it will approve measures later today in response to possible new tariffs imposed by the United States. The approved texts will be published tomorrow in the EU Official Journal, a Commission spokesperson said during a press conference.
According to him, the measures will enter into force on 7 August, unless they are lifted by then as a result of a successful outcome of the ongoing bilateral negotiations. The deadline for reaching an agreement is 1 August, with talks continuing at political and technical levels.
“Negotiations remain our priority, but at the same time we are preparing for the possibility of no agreement“, the spokesperson said.
The European Commission has drawn up two lists of potential countermeasures, which have subsequently been merged into one. Today, this single list has been approved by member states.
“We do not currently envisage introducing additional measures before 1 August. However, all options remain on the table“, the Commission spokesperson summed up.