EU trade chief to Trump: ‘Let’s do business’ – POLITICO

“Our message is very clear: we are ready to engage. We want to put a cooperation package on the table. And we are ready to discuss all the concerns of our American partners and go from there.

Trump’s tariff threats have sown fear in Brussels and the bloc’s governments at a time when the continent’s economy is in decline. His promise to impose higher, punitive tariffs on China has leaders worried that cheap exports once destined for the U.S. market will end up flooding the European market.

Ready to offer carrots to Washington, Šefčovič’s comments add to the plan presented by Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European executive, who issued a veiled warning to Trump on Tuesday. Without verifying it, she laid out the many options the EU has, such as strengthening cooperation “not only with our long-standing like-minded friends, but with any country with which we share interests”.

Von der Leyen previously suggested that one way to deter Trump from imposing new tariffs would be for Europe to buy more U.S. liquefied natural gas. Stocking up on American military equipment would be another way to buy favor with Washington.

Although Trump did not follow through on his threat to impose universal tariffs on day one, he has continued since taking office to criticize the EU, blaming it for a gaping transatlantic trade deficit.

“They don’t take our cars at all. Essentially, they don’t take our agricultural products. They don’t take much. We have a deficit of 350 billion dollars with the European Union. They are treating us badly so they are going to have to pay tariffs,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

Šefčovič, a veteran of the European Commission known for his calm, did not take the bait.

“This relationship is so vast and so important that we must cherish it. We just have to see how we can improve it,” he said, noting that transatlantic ties account for more than 40 percent of global gross domestic product.