The European Commission has decided to pause The retaliation measures against the United States for 90 days, responding to the partial freezing of the duties announced by Trump. No unconditional trust, just a window to understand if there is negotiation margin. The European package of almost 21 billion is ready, but remains in the drawer.
In Brussels the negotiationeven if for now there are no dates and official tables. Meanwhile, lateral maneuvers are multiplying:
- Contacts with Beijing;
- Dossier on American gas;
- regulatory levers against USA platforms.
In the middle, the thin balances between those who would like to keep the hard line and those who pushes to avoid yet another Transatlantic feud.
Customs truce to encourage the comparison between the EU and the USA
The European Commission has made official the customs truce by blocking the counterdasi, explaining that the suspension will last ninety days. Ursula von der Leyen announced it:
Let’s take note of the announcement of President Donald Trump. We want to give negotiations a chance.
The suspension came while the formal process of approval of a package of almost 21 billion euros was closed, with targeted measures on a selection of US goods, from soybean to motorcycles. There first tranchefor a value of about 3.9 billion, was already on the launching pad, with the entry into force expected for the April 15th. Now it remains in stand-by. Not for confidence, but for tactics.
The decision followed an extraordinary meeting of the permanent delegates of the Member States, during which the Community executive illustrated the proposal. No mention, according to diplomatic sources, to disparity Between the suspension announced by Washington and the one decided by Brussels. The Commission would have underlined positive signals from the American part, such as to justify a temporary opening.
ANDUnstable quaribrium between consent and diplomatic caution
The measure collected a broad consensus, even if not unanimous. Some capital, in particular the French one, have expressed reservations. To worry is the perception that the European block can appear as a failure to pressure of an interlocutor considered unpredictable.
Donald Trump, with the usual dose of self -satisfaction, said he had been submerged by calls for foreign leaders willing to do anything in order not to run into his customs barriers. A gimmick that has not really liked European officials, fueling doubts about the line chosen by Brussels and on the effectiveness of granting Treria to those who do not shine for consistency.
No official summit between Brussels and Washington
No meeting marked on the agenda between Brussels and Washington. The opening declared by both sides remains, for now, on paper. The representatives of the Union prefer not to run, declaring that before putting off dates and convocations they want to understand how the waters move. The climate is that of a cautious wait, but without illusions.
The spokesman for the Commission of the Commission gave the feeling of the stall, Olof Gillwhich in the usual briefing with the press confirmed the absence of official meetings on the horizon. He added that a phone call between Maros Sefcovic and the American secretary of trade, Howard Lutnick, was there. I exchange useful, of course, but happened before Trump decided to block (temporarily) the duties. Nothing more.
Chinese paper in the strategic calculations of Europe
In parallel with the dynamics with Washington, Brussels continues to dialogue with China. Tuesday, Ursula von der Leyen had a telephone interview with Premier Li Qiang, with the aim of diversifying commercial relations and reducing dependence on interlocutors deemed unstable.
Europe, in fact, does not intend to remain excluded from strategic alternatives while the United States, according to some analyzes, seem to aim to create a common front against China. Beijing is the recipient of the highest rates introduced by Trump, climbed to 145%.
Regulatory tools and digital dossiers in preparation
Given the huge Trump’s unpredictabilitythe Commission continues to evaluate tools to be used in case of New escalation. Among the measures under discussion, possible interventions in the digital services sector, where the United States boast an active balance, or regulatory interventions concerning Big Tech. The use of the anti-coercion mechanismwhich would allow to limit the access of foreign companies to the European market in case of hostile behavior.
