EU and US Trade Chiefs Engage in High-Stakes Tariff Talks Amid Rising Tensions

EU and US trade officials are convening in Paris this week to avert a full-blown trade war, following President Trump's decision to double metals tariffs and impose a July 9 deadline for new duties on European goods. The talks between EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer occur against a backdrop of escalating trade tensions, with the OECD summit serving as the stage for these critical negotiations.

Trump's latest directive raises tariffs on European steel and aluminum to 50%, part of a broader strategy targeting EU exports. European companies already face a 10% tariff on most goods, with automotive products hit by 25% duties. The EU has temporarily suspended its €21 billion retaliatory plan, aiming to create space for dialogue. However, three EU diplomats reveal that concessions offered by the bloc have yet to elicit a clear response from the US.