The EU wants peace, but is preparing for a (tariff) war with Donald Trump. European Union ministers agreed Monday to prioritize negotiations with the United States to avoid the threatening duties of 30%, for which the Union’s trade leader warned that It would destroy the transit trade.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that it would impose 30% duties on most EU imports from August 1, although diplomats say there is still time to reach an agreement to prevent such a development.

European Commissioner Maros Shefkovic said he felt that talks with their US counterparts were being “a good result for both sides”, but the new duty threat had created a duty. “A new dynamic”.

A 30% tariff factor would make it almost impossible to continue trade as before, with huge consequences for supply chains and negative impacts on both sides of the Atlantic.

“And therefore, I think we must do, and I will surely do whatever I can to prevent this extremely negative scenario,” He told reporters before the meeting of EU ministers on the subject of commercial transactions.

Despite Trump’s letter, Sefkovic said he realized that US negotiators are willing to continue negotiations, although he warned that the EU should prepare for all results, including possible countermeasures.

The Commission proposed suspended the first package of potential EU duties on US $ 21 billion. The deadline was to expire until midnight on Monday.

It is also likely to be asked for green light on Monday for a second package that will touch the 72 billion euros in American products.

The “last European measure”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loke Rasmussen agreed that it was too early to impose countermeasures and that he hopes the EU will remain united on this front.

“But we have to prepare to be ready to use all the tools”, added. “If you want peace, you have to prepare for war. And I think we’re there. “

For his part, French Minister of Commerce Laurent Saint-Marten said the EU should proceeded beyond what he had described To date, the Commission, making it clear that the block should also consider the targeting of US services (including digital) or use the European “against coercion” mechanism (ACI).

This tool allows the block to retaliate against third countries that exert financial pressure on EU members to change their policies.

“This balance of forces that Donald Trump wants is a balance of forces in which you have to prove Your ability to react. And in this we may have to accelerate today, ” Saint-Marten pointed out.