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Earlier this week, the United States rejected the European Union's zero-for-zero tariff proposal, deeming it inadequate. President Trump had suggested that the EU should also increase its energy imports from the US, particularly in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), to address the significant trade deficit between the two blocs.
Support for EU in Ongoing Negotiations
The EU demonstrated its openness to this solution on Tuesday, signaling its willingness to engage in further negotiations. Additionally, it was announced that Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who maintains a strong relationship with President Trump, is scheduled to visit Washington for talks on April 14.
Recently, Italy, France, and Ireland successfully prevented the inclusion of American bourbon whiskey on the potential counter-tariff list. Donald Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs as high as 200% on alcohol imports from the EU.
The inclusion of more EU representatives in the ongoing talks is seen as a positive development. It is essential for the EU to approach negotiations seriously, especially considering the challenges faced when stubbornly maintaining a single point of view, as was witnessed in recent discussions.
EU Commission Overlooks SMEs in Metalworking Sector
Last Monday, the European Commission hosted a ‘Dialogue on Steel and Metals’ organized by President Ursula von der Leyen. The high-level event, primarily attended by representatives from the steel and metals industries, aimed to address the impact of US tariffs on steel, aluminum, and related products. The discussion focused on gathering industry perspectives and formulating an effective EU response to US trade measures.
Industry representatives welcomed the EU Commission's Action Plan for the steel and metals industry and the Clean Industrial Deal, urging for their swift implementation.
SMEs Excluded from the Discussion
However, once again, it was evident that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were not a priority for Ursula von der Leyen. The dialogue was dominated by large multinational corporations and their lobby groups, while associations representing SMEs were entirely absent from the list of participants, which included only 13 individuals.
SMEs Need to Be Included in the Negotiations
As seen with the European Steel and Metals Action Plan and the Transition Pathway for European Metal Sectors, the concerns of 99.8% of EU businesses—particularly SMEs—continue to be overlooked. The European Member States and the EU Parliament must urgently address this oversight and ensure that the voices and proposals of SMEs are heard and considered in such important discussions.
