Posted on 05/24/2025 10:40:38 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The European Union's trade chief said the 27-member bloc is committed to securing a trade deal with the US based on "respect" not "threats".
It comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to slap a 50% tariff on all goods sent to the US from the EU.
"The EU's fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both," EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said after a call with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
"EU-US trade is unmatched & must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests."
Earlier on Friday, Trump expressed impatience with the pace of ongoing EU-US trade negotiations, saying his plan to raise tariffs on 1 June was set.
Writing on social media, Trump said: "Our discussions with [the EU] are going nowhere," adding that there would be no tariffs for products built or manufactured in the US.
"I'm not looking for a deal - we've set the deal," he told reporters later, before immediately adding that a big investment in the US by a European company might make him open to a delay.
The EU is one of the Washington's largest trading partners, sending more than $600bn (€528bn; £443bn) in goods last year and buying $370bn worth, US government figures show.
Reacting to Trump's threats, European governments warned that higher tariffs would be damaging to both sides.
"We do not need to go down this road," said Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin. "Negotiations are the best and only sustainable way forward."
France's Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin, said: "We are maintaining the same line: de-escalation, but we are ready to respond."
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said the bloc "must do everything" to reach a solution with the US.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
The EU just needs to bide their time. What Trump threatens usually doesn’t take place.
The world has become far too accustomed to leaching off of the USA.
the eu is a little light on the buying...
Coming from Germans, that sure sounds like a threat, not respect!
I’m sure Trump cherishes the unpredictable, scorched earth, mad man image he has.
He uses that to his advantage.
If you notice, regards Ukraine/Russia, Israel/Hamas, etc. he’s suddenly really measured, precise in his communications...
The Honey Badger thing is a tactic for him that he uses where applicable.
The get your ass off your high horse, quit bitching, and get the deal done. You've been defending your interests at our expense since WWI. Time for you to pay for your "interests".
Respect? Next thing they’re going to say is “But we are like family”
Hey, Europe, tell it to Aretha Franklin. (1942-2018).
And you also aren’t getting your fried chickens or your plain white toast, Matt Guitar Murphy or a break on tariffs that hurt America.
Respect?...(SPIT!)
We bailed your ass out twice in the last century (Kraut wars)
Just STFU and comply.
But will you “respect” me in the morning?
Wrong. Usually the threat doesn’t take place because the mere existence of the threat produces results. Over 50 countries are negotiating bilateral trade agreements with the US.
The EU never does anything it is supposed to do.
It does everything slothfulness says to do, however.
Hey EU, Remember the Marshall plan? 50% sounds great to us.
>> Coming from Germans, that sure sounds like a threat, not respect!
Stupid and ARROGANT! is no way for a nation to go through history, Deutschland.
I’ll show you respect, like the Roman emperor did.
Oh, like the respect the ‘yoops’ showed Trump during his term as 45? That kind of respect? How about...🖕
Respect, that’s rich. 😆
I cannot think of the last time the ERU has been respectful to the USA.... I mean ever. At best they reign in their air of snotty superiority briefly, but it’s still very perceptible.
They truly think they are better than America.
He’s gonna start peeling off individual countries. German auto makers will build factories in the US because Germany has no energy and even more ridiculous regulations than we do, and ours are getting rolled back. Italy sells fashion goods that are fairly tariff proof when it comes to their buyers. France sells nothing we don’t already have. What does the rest of Europe sell us?
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