EU Aims to Boost U.S. Imports by €50 Billion to Ease Trade Tensions

The European Union is seeking to increase its imports from the United States by €50 billion ($56.5 billion) as part of a broader effort to resolve rising trade tensions and reduce its trade deficit with Washington.

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic revealed this goal in an interview with the Financial Times, indicating that the bloc is making progress in ongoing negotiations but remains wary of unfair terms.

Sefcovic made it clear that the EU would not accept a resolution that allows the U.S. to maintain its current 10% tariffs on European goods, calling such a stance unbalanced.

Tensions escalated earlier this year after the U.S. imposed a series of tariffs, including 25% duties on European cars, steel, and aluminum, and 20% tariffs on various other products. The latter was temporarily reduced in April, offering a 90-day window—ending July 8—for both sides to reach a more comprehensive agreement.

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In response to Washington’s actions, the EU suspended plans to introduce retaliatory tariffs and instead proposed eliminating all industrial tariffs mutually. Sefcovic suggested that the trade deficit could be addressed relatively quickly by increasing European purchases of U.S. goods, particularly in the energy and agriculture sectors.

Despite these steps, Sefcovic acknowledged that securing a deal that is broadly acceptable to the EU’s 27 member states and the European Parliament would be a significant challenge. He also noted that the EU is open to collaborating with the United States to manage the global market impact of rising Chinese exports—an issue both sides view as increasingly urgent.

With the negotiation window closing fast, both Brussels and Washington face mounting pressure to deliver a breakthrough that strengthens economic ties while ensuring fair and balanced trade.