According to the EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič, The European Commission is prepared to defend EU industries, consumers, and the economy against new US tariffs on cars. This comes after US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all cars not made in the United States, set to take effect on April 2. Šefčovič stated that the Commission had already tried to prevent such measures but is now focused on retaliating if necessary.
Šefčovič, who discussed the issue during his visit to the US in February, emphasized that the EU would respond quickly and appropriately. He also dismissed the claims that the US has been working on a "reciprocity report" which includes proposals to challenge European VAT as a discriminatory tax against American products. He pointed out that VAT applies equally to products from both the EU and the US.
Regarding the tariffs on cars, Šefčovič proposed reducing existing tariffs, rather than increasing them, as a way to benefit the automotive industry on both sides of the Atlantic. He suggested reviving previous discussions on easing the mutual recognition of technical standards for cars, which would lower costs and speed up the approval process for new car models.
The government is actively engaging with the European Commission to address US President Trump’s proposed tariffs on car imports. In a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized that Slovakia would collaborate with the EU to protect its automotive industry. Slovakia is preparing to discuss compensation for affected farmers amid the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which has also been a topic in talks with the EU.
Economy Minister Denisa Saková also met with US Ambassador Gautam Rana to address the proposed tariffs and confirmed that Slovakia is in constant communication with car manufacturers to find solutions. The tariffs, which are set to be imposed by the US on April 2, will impact not just Slovakia’s car industry but also other sectors, including pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. Fico confirmed that the Slovak government would continue to work with EU partners to mitigate the effects of these tariffs on its economy.
Source: TASR
