In this photo illustration, images with double exhibition are shown by US President Donald Trump against the EU flag.
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The European Union is preparing for further tariffs from the United States, despite talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump at the beginning of this week.
Over the past few months, it has been intense, and Trump accused the EU of being one of the worst culprits in the US trade treatment
In recent weeks, tension has been heating. Thanks to the steel and aluminum Washington's wider tariffs, the EU took revenge with duties worth over EUR 20 billion for American goods. These remedies were employed for 90 days, after Trump also stopped the second round of EU tariffs for the same period.
“As recommended from the first day, we prefer negotiations from tariffs, which harm our relevant economy, business operators and consumers,” said Olof Gill, spokesman for trade in the European Commission, EU executive arm, in a document made available by CNBC after a meeting between the White House and the EU officials.
The highest EU trade clerk Maros Sefcovic met with US secretary Howard Lutnick and the commercial representative of the USA Jamieson Greer on April 14, but their conversations seemed small.
“It is obvious that significant joint efforts will be needed to achieve a successful result in a 90-day window,” said Gill. “The EU performs its role. Now the US must define its position. As with any negotiations, it must be a two -way street.”
This week, President Trump repeated his view that he is not satisfied with the EU about trade.
“The European Union has adopted a terrible advantage, they do not accept our food products, they do not take our cars,” he said.
This week, the United States has raised pressure on the EU, announcing investigations on the import of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, which, according to Trump, can lead to new fees against these sectors.
“This was expected,” said the EU gills, adding that Europeans have made a “strong case” against tariffs in these areas.
“The Commission also continues our preparatory work on additional remedies if the negotiations do not cause a successful result. And everything remains on the table.”
The best EU export products to the US are medicinal and pharmaceutical goods, road vehicles and machines.
According to European Union data, the EU had a trade surplus from the US with a total value of EUR 48 billion in 2023. This can be divided into a surplus of goods of EUR 157 billion and a service deficit of EUR 109 billion.
Italy is trying to discourage Trump
In the meantime, all eyes are the Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, who will meet President Trump on Thursday. He is the first European head of the state to meet the US leader because some tariffs were stopped at the beginning of this month.
“This is a key opportunity for her to demonstrate both her closeness with President Donald Trump and her potential role of a reliable interlocutor capable of revitalizing transatlantic dialogue,” said Wolfango Piccoli, co-chairman of the consulting company Teneo, in a note for clients last week.
He added that Melons “is under the pressure of the protection of Italy's export, which recorded a commercial surplus of EUR 40 billion from the USA in 2024, the third in the EU, after Germany and Ireland.”
Trump previously called Melons a “wonderful woman” and said that Rome had “very strong leadership in Georgia.”
Melons and Trump are divided by conservative political ideas, as well as similar views on China. However, conversations can still change, because Trump can push the telons on the issue of defense of Rome as part of his obligations towards NATO's alliance. Rome does not yet follow the purpose of the coalition consisting in investing 2% GDP in security.