Von der Leyen will only go to Trump when it comes to tariffs

BRUSSELS (ANP) – “I love compliments,” said the chairperson. “I think I had a good conversation with President Trump, both over the phone and at the Pope’s funeral.” But she will only go to the White House when there is a concrete package on trade tariffs that the EU can negotiate.

On Thursday, the Commission presented another list of American products that will be subject to import duties if talks with the US about American import tariffs break down.

It concerns 218 pages of American products worth 95 billion euros.

The list mainly includes agricultural and industrial products such as whiskey, parts for motorcycles, and airplanes. The American aerospace company Boeing may also be affected, according to an EU source. The Commission also wants to limit EU exports of scrap steel and chemical products, worth 4.4 billion euros.

There are no pharmaceutical products or products that are difficult to import elsewhere on the list, according to a Commission source. Producers or other stakeholders can also submit objections to the list until June 10. “After all, we don’t want to shoot ourselves in the foot,” the source said.

Several EU sources previously indicated that the talks are proceeding slowly, mainly because it is unclear what the US specifically wants in exchange for lowering overall import tariffs.

(May 9, 2025)