After Trump's Threat, EU Asserts Commitment to Respect-based Trade Deal with US

The European Union (EU)’s trade chief has said the EU wants to make a trade deal with the United States based on respect, not threats.

This statement came after former US President Donald Trump warned he might impose a 50% tax on EU products. In response, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said that the 27-member EU is committed to a trade deal with mutual respect.

According to the BBC, after talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Šefčovič said the EU is still committed to a deal that benefits both sides.

“EU-US trade is important and should be based on mutual respect, not threats. We are ready to protect our interests,” he said.

Earlier, on Friday, President Trump had said he might increase taxes from June 1 due to slow progress in trade talks with the EU.

According to US government data, the EU is one of America’s biggest trade partners. Last year, the EU exported goods worth $600 billion to the US and imported $370 billion worth of goods from the US.