Brussels – Today, during a lunch meeting in Brussels, trade ministers from European Union countries engaged in a two-hour discussion with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick about enhancing transatlantic trade relations. This information was shared by Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček following the meeting. This marks Lutnick’s first participation in official talks with EU representatives, accompanied by U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer.
“I must say I enjoyed the lunch,” Vlček remarked to Czech reporters. He reiterated a point he has made for several months: “The challenge in the largest trade relationship globally may not solely be the level of certain tariffs, but rather the non-tariff components.”
Non-tariff measures significantly impact trade relations between the EU and the USA. These measures encompass trade restrictions that are not tariffs but still influence the cross-border flow of goods and services, including regulations, standards, and administrative procedures.
“The Americans acknowledged this as well, and we stress in every statement that for a unified European market, it is essential to eliminate internal barriers and non-tariff components,” stated the Czech minister. He believes this issue is what “holds Europe back.”
The agreement reached in July between the EU and the USA imposed a 15 percent tariff on most goods imported from the EU to the United States, with exceptions for aircraft and related parts, generic pharmaceuticals, certain agricultural products, and chemical industry goods. The deal also included commitments to address steel exports and non-tariff barriers. Currently, the EU faces a 50 percent tariff on steel and aluminum exports to the USA, and the European Commission plans to implement a quota system for reduced tariffs on a portion of metal exports. (November 24)
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