EU Considers €50 Bln in US Imports to Ease Trade Tensions

The European Union is exploring the option of increasing imports from the United States by €50 billion as part of an effort to resolve ongoing trade disputes with Washington.

According to European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, the 27-member bloc is actively examining ways to narrow its trade deficit with the U.S., which has long been a source of friction.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Šefčovič explained that the trade gap, estimated at €50 billion, could be addressed swiftly through purchases of American liquefied natural gas and agricultural goods such as soybeans.

The EU’s proposal comes amid continued negotiations with the U.S. administration to roll back tariffs introduced under former President Donald Trump. Those tariffs include a 25% duty on EU steel, aluminum, and cars, along with a 10% levy on other goods.

Washington has maintained that the EU benefits from an unfair trade surplus, which Trump previously described as costing the US hundreds of billions of dollars. However, Brussels argues that the actual trade imbalance is far smaller, closer to €50 billion, once services purchased from the U.S. are taken into account.

When asked whether the EU would accept a minimum 10% US tariff rate in any trade deal, Šefčovič indicated that the bloc considers such a level excessively high. His comments suggest that the EU is unlikely to approve any agreement that maintains tariffs at that rate.

Šefčovič also warned that securing a satisfactory agreement would be extremely difficult without broad support from EU member states and the European Parliament.

Trade policy falls under the jurisdiction of the European Commission. However, any finalized agreement must be ratified by all 27 EU countries and subsequently approved by the European Parliament before it can take effect.