EU Trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič has disclosed that he will fly to Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 for trade talks with the US administration to avert higher US tariffs just days before a July 9 deadline.
Šefčovič told reporters he would travel to Washington after talks in Turkey on Tuesday and seek meetings with US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick on Wednesday and Thursday.
He divulged that the EU had received the first drafts of proposals from the United States for an eventual agreement.
“The ninth of July is round the corner so for me, it’s always a good sign when we move from the exchange of views into the drafting process.”
Maroš Šefčovič
The EU Trade Commissioner noted that the bloc was pushing for a deal on import levies that was “fair for both sides” and gave more predictability to businesses. “We are absolutely focusing on … a positive outcome,” he told reporters.
Earlier, the European Commission pushed back against speculation that the EU’s landmark tech regulatory regime could be included in the EU-US negotiations and subsequently watered down.
EU concerns mounted after US President, Donald Trump broke off trade talks with Canada in response to Canada’s digital services tax, accusing Ottawa of “copying the European Union.” Canada subsequently rescinded the tax.
The EU has two pieces of recent legislation targeted by the Trump administration.
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) seeks to rein in the power of US tech giants Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms and Microsoft, as well as Booking.com and China’s ByteDance.
The Digital Services Act (DSA) requires big online platforms to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content.
Commission Spokesperson, Thomas Regnier told a daily news conference, “Our legislation will not be changed,” adding that the DMA and the DSA are not on the table in the trade negotiations with the US.
He said the EU would not accept interference from foreign governments in its landmark rules, which come with hefty fines for violations.
“We are not going to adjust the implementation of our legislation based on the actions of third countries. If we started to do that, then we would have to do it with numerous third countries.”
Thomas Regnier
The EU handed out its first fines to Apple and Meta earlier this year and both risk further daily fines if regulators find that they have yet to comply with the rules in the coming months.
EU, Ukraine Reach Agreement On Modernised Trade Deal
Šefčovič disclosed his planned trip to US after announcing that the EU had agreed a new long-term trade deal with Ukraine, covering imports of food products from the war-torn country that have angered EU farmers.
The modernised agreement is structured around three key pillars; Level-playing field, a robust safeguard clause and enhanced trade flows.
He stated that the agreement opens a new chapter in already dynamic EU-Ukraine trade relations.
“Trade volumes reached some 67 billion euro in 2024, generating an 18-billion-euro trade surplus for the EU. Politically, it sends a strong signal of steadfast support to Ukraine, as it defends its sovereignty and democratic future.”
Maroš Šefčovič
He added that the deal also safeguards the interests of EU farmers and provides the stability and predictability stakeholders need “in these uncertain times.”
Also, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said that with the modernised agreement, trade flows are being secured from Ukraine to Europe and global markets. “And we are also building bridges of resilience and economic solidarity in the face of Russia’s unjustified war of aggression,” she added.
“At the same time, we continue to safeguard the interests of our farmers. Ukraine’s place is in the family. We remain committed to a path of mutual growth and stability, leading to its full integration in our Union.”
Ursula von der Leyen
Furthermore, the EU and Ukraine have also agreed to review the situation in the context of its progress in economic integration and its accession prospects.
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