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Brussels (Reuters) – Donald Trump’s judicial troubles on customs duties offer Europeans in difficult commercial negotiations with the Americans, EU officials estimated on Friday.

For Brussels, discussions continue despite the uncertainty that reigns over the future of customs duties aimed at Canada, Mexico and China, as well as “reciprocal” rights of 10% on almost all of the imported products decided on April 2 by the White House.

The United States International Commercial Court (ITC) judged on Wednesday that the American president had exceeded his powers by imposing customs duties normally under the congress.

This decision was suspended on appeal the next day, the time to rule on the merits.

“There is no change in our approach, we proceed as planned, with political and technical meetings next week,” said a spokesperson for the European Commission.

Discussions are planned on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Council meeting scheduled for June 3 and 4 in Paris.

European Commerce Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, announced on the X network that he was once again maintained on the phone on Friday with the US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lux.

“We are fully invested, finding solutions for the future remains an absolute priority for the EU. We remain in permanent contact,” he wrote.

“UNCERTAINTY”

The European Union is the target of a series of customs duties from the United States: 25% on steel and aluminum, 25% on cars, 20% on all other products since April. This last tax is suspended until July 9.

“The uncertainty about the legality of so -called ‘reciprocal’ customs duties obviously gives us an additional lever,” said a European official to the file. “Negotiations are continuing, we still tend to zero customs right.”

The European Commission refuses to comment on the legal pitfalls which stand in front of the White House, explaining that these are internal judicial decisions.

However, there are community sources that American court decisions validate Brussels analysis that “reciprocal” customs duties imposed on April 2 are without legal basis.

These decisions, add these sources, could also accentuate the maneuver room of twenty-seven to revise downwards, even cancel customs duties of 25% on steel, aluminum and cars.

In addition, the European Union is likely to appear as an “stability oasis” for the stock markets, unlike the United States.

“This is the key word: uncertainty. It is impossible to know what customs duties will be next week, even next month,” notes a European official.

“If you want a healthy, stable, even boring economic environment, based on rules and predictable, Europe is made for you!”, He adds.

(Report Jan Strupczewski, with Julia Payne, Sophie Louet, edited by Tangi Salaün)

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