The European Union (EU) plans to merge two packages of responses to the tariffs that, if no agreement is reached, will be imposed on goods from Europe by the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump starting August 1st.
This joint package will be ready for implementation if trade negotiations with the Trump administration fail, stated the spokesperson for the European Commission.
“To make our countermeasures clearer, simpler, and stronger, we will merge lists 1 and 2 into one single list,” the European Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters.
The first list is currently suspended until August 6th, while the second is awaiting a vote by the 27 EU member states.
The combined list would cover U.S. imports into the EU worth 93 billion euros, including bourbon, aircraft, and soybeans.
The first list originates from Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs from March, while the second was recently finalized. Gill said the consolidated list would take effect on August 7th, although the Commission can extend the suspension of measures.
This move comes after negotiations stalled in recent weeks, following Trump’s threat to impose 30 percent tariffs on goods from the EU if the two sides do not reach an agreement by August 1st.
“Our priority is negotiations, but in parallel we are preparing for all possible outcomes,” said Gill.
He added that Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic was expected to speak with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Wednesday.
