EU to set out next countermeasures against US tariffs on Thursday

Maroš Šefčovičtrade Commissioner

Tomorrow we will announce next preparatory steps, both in the area of possible rebalancing measures, and also in the areas important for the further discussions,

Sefcovic told a news conference in Singapore after the signing of a digital trade agreement with the Southeast Asian country

I would like to make it very clear that negotiations clearly come first, but not at any cost,

he said

Maroš Šefčovičtrade Commissioner

We do not feel weak. We do not feel under undue pressure to accept a deal, which would not be fair for us,

Sefcovic said

The aim is to be prepared in case the negotiations with the U.S. do not bring tangible results,

another diplomat said

Xi Jinpingpresident

China and the EU should uphold multilateralism, defend fairness and justice, oppose unilateral bullying.”

Xi said

All options remain on the table here,

Sefcovic said

We now need the U.S. to show its readiness to make progress towards a fair and balanced solution,

he told a debate in the European Parliament

Maroš Šefčovičtrade Commissioner

If all these investigations lead to unjustified, harmful tariffs, then another €170 billion euros of EU exports to the U.S. would be impacted. This means that, in total, around €549 billion of EU exports to the US, i.e. 97 percent of the total, would be subject to tariffs,

Šefčovič told European lawmakers in Strasbourg

If our talks with the US do not yield the necessary results, we will be ready for the alternative with the aim of restoring a level playing field,

Mr Šefčovič told MEPs

Pascal Lamyformer WTO chief

The EU has two options,

Lamy said on Friday

We absolutely are committed to finding agreements with the US that benefit both sides,

a European Commission spokesman, Olof Gill, said

If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in,

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in announcing the suspension on April 10.

We are preparing for the possible and might-be-needed rebalancing,

he said, referring to retaliatory tariffs the EU had initially suspended to allow room for talks

As you can imagine, it's not easy,

he noted,

I have already shared our approach with my US counterparts as a basis for further engagement. We are fully engaged in discussions with the US, as a negotiated solution remains our clear and preferred outcome,

he said