Czech minister warns Trump about key issue in US-EU tariff dispute
Photo: Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The EU should urge US President Donald Trump to lift trade tariffs by purchasing more American gas, while also considering possible retaliatory measures.
This was stated by Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, as reported by Politico.
"It's obvious that there was a political assignment for the U.S. administration to do some action so any negotiation before Liberation Day was not able to change it," he said.
According to him, it is important for EU countries to have another conversation with the US side and "show them what the situation looks like."
"And that we have dedication to do countermeasures worth over €20 billion," Lipavský reminded.
At the same time, he supported the purchase of more American fossil gas, which, according to Trump, is key to solving the trade imbalance, calling it "a good proposal."
Lipavský added that the European Commission had held a series of talks with American counterparts, and although they have not yet reached an agreement, "we should continue with that."
Trump’s tariffs
It is worth recalling that US President Donald Trump imposed a 20% tariff on the EU. He also confirmed a 25% tariff on cars and auto parts.
EU Trade Committee Chair Maroš Šefčovič and other senior officials visited Washington in recent weeks to try to negotiate a deal that would free the EU from US tariffs.
Brussels even proposed investing actively in American fossil fuel infrastructure as part of efforts to increase imports — but diplomats told Politico that these plans did not attract interest from the US administration.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to take her own retaliatory measures in response to Trump’s tariffs.
