No EU-US tariff deal (yet), says Sefcovic. Meloni in Washington on Thursday

Brussels – There is no trade agreement with the United States, not yet at least, nor even an agreement on a zero tariff regime for industry. The European Trade Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, has not succeeded in definitely eliminating the specter of a tariff war with his American counterpart. His mission to Washington serves to reiterate the twelve-star readiness to negotiate and find a shared, amicable agreement to avoid the imposition of tariffs on respective goods exported from one side of the Atlantic to the other. So far, however, no dice. The Trump administration will not relent, but the EU will not give up.

It is not an easy mission for Sefcovic, and he is well aware of that. Finding an understanding on the first negotiating attempt would have been an enormous success, so calm and determination are maintained. “The EU remains constructive and ready to reach a fair agreement, including reciprocity through our 0-for-0 tariff offer on industrial goods and work on non-tariff barriers,” Sefcovic stresses, aware that “achieving this goal will require a significant joint effort on both sides.” Of course, now that the US has rejected the EU’s peace offers, it will have to be the White House that comes up with a counter-proposal.

In D.C., met with Secretary @howardlutnick and Ambassador @jamiesongreer for negotiations, seizing the 90-day window for a mutual solution to unjustified tariffs. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/P0eMgZSudQ

– Maroš Šefčovič (@MarosSefcovic) April 14, 2025#

In Brussels, there is no sense of panic. There are 90 days from yesterday (April 15) to try to find an understanding. Not surprisingly, lips are sealed, therefore. The moment is as delicate as it is decisive, and it is preferred to work with those in charge – the United States – without putting everything in the public square. The reiterated message is that “we are moving along two tracks: negotiations and preparing for the worst should the negotiations fail to produce an agreement,” said Olof Gill, the EU executive’s spokesman for trade issues. In essence, nothing has changed from the approach already in place.

A contribution to this sensitive matter could come from Giorgia Meloni, who, according to sources in Rome, has frequently heard from Ursula von der Leyen in recent days. The Prime Minister is expected in Washington tomorrow (April 16), where she will meet the US president. A confrontation on tariffs is inevitable, with the Commission looking at the institutional appointment and clarifying that the Italian head of government has not received any mandate. “Any input is welcome, but the competence on trade lies with the European Commission, as required by Treaties,” Gill cuts short.