European Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight Maroš Šefčovič stated to the media after attending the European Union Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on the 7th that the EU is ready to use "all trade defense instruments" to counteract the impact of US tariffs and will implement the first round of counter-tariffs against the US from April 15.
This EU ministerial meeting aims to unify member states' positions and formulate strategies for the next phase of trade negotiations with the US.
Šefčovič indicated that the EU still hopes to encourage the US to remove tariffs through dialogue and negotiation, but if progress in negotiations with the US on tariffs is not achieved, the EU will employ all means to counter the US.
He stated, "We are prepared to use all the measures in our trade defense toolbox to protect the interests of the EU single market, EU producers, and consumers."
He mentioned that the EU will implement the first round of counter-tariffs against the US from April 15, with the second round starting from May 15.
US President Trump's trade and manufacturing senior advisor Peter Navarro claimed on the 7th that if the EU wishes to reach an agreement with the US to reduce tariffs, it must cut its non-tariff barriers, including those brought by the VAT system. However, Šefčovič explicitly stated that VAT is a significant source of income for EU member states, and the EU will not alter the current VAT system.