European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic confirmed on Monday that a vote on the first package of countermeasures to United States tariffs will take place on April 9 and they will come into force on April 15, with the second part set for May 15. He insisted that the union's response "cannot be delayed" and said trade ministers from all member states showed unity at a meeting today.
Sefcovic noted the US tariffs cover around 70% of EU exports worth €380 billion but that the EU is not looking to adopt a "dollar for dollar" approach in determining its response. However, he insisted that "all options" remain on the table and that the Commission will consult with stakeholders and EU member states on using "all the instruments at our disposal." He stressed that the EU has no intention of changing or scrapping the value-added tax (VAT), which the Trump administration sees as a "non-tariff barrier" to US exports.
