European Union negotiators are nearing a trade deal with President Trump that would impose higher tariffs on the bloc than those granted to the UK.
European Union negotiators are nearing a trade deal with President Donald Trump that would slap the 27-member block with higher tariffs than those imposed on the United Kingdom, according to multiple EU diplomats and officials.
Brussels is prepared to sign a temporary “framework” agreement that would set the US president’s “reciprocal” tariffs at 10% — matching the baseline duty already imposed on the UK.
However, EU negotiators do not expect to secure the same carve outs that the US afforded to British steel, cars and other products subject to sectoral duties, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
Trump, who supported the UK’s 2016 decision to leave the EU, is also demanding 17% tariffs on EU agrifood products.
The proposed agreement has stirred concern in Brussels, which had expected its larger economic clout would provide leverage in talks with Washington.
“The UK agreement was better than this,” one EU diplomat told FT. “It’s a surprise given how long we have negotiated.”
Anna Cavazzini, chair of the European Parliament’s internal market committee, criticized the bloc’s earlier posture.
“Not directly responding to illegal Trump tariffs in April was a mistake, leaving little room for the [European] commission to cut down existing rates,” Cavazzini told FT.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer moved early to reach a deal, pairing business adviser Varun Chandra with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to lead the talks.
