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Question Time

US tariffs on EU cars, Urso: 'Not yet formalised'. From Washington: 'Coming soon'

A few days ago, US President Donald Trump threatened to introduce 25% tariffs on European cars and trucks

by Lorenzo Pace

IMAGOECONOMICA

2' min read

Translated by AI

For feedback, please contact
english@ilsole24ore.com

Versione italiana

Key points

2' min read

Translated by AI

For feedback, please contact
english@ilsole24ore.com

Versione italiana

The 25% US tariffs on European vehicles remain only a 'threat' at the moment. And therefore do not merit an immediate reaction so as not to fuel trade tensions with the Americans.

This is the current situation, one week after President Donald Trump's announcement to introduce 25% tariffs on cars and trucks. Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, took stock of the situation during Question Time at the Chamber of Deputies.

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"Cautious approach"

Threats of new tariffs, said the minister, 'are not, at present, formalised by means of executive acts, and this is also why we maintain a prudent and coordinated approach within the European Union, because an isolated response would risk fuelling a cycle of retaliation that would be detrimental to the entire supply chain'.

Urso also reiterated that 'the government follows with the utmost attention' the possible escalation of trade tensions and 'supports and shares the action of the European Commission entitled to represent us'.

EU-US Negotiation

A reminder of the meeting on Tuesday 5 May between European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and his US counterpart Jamieson Greer, the most dialoguing of the overseas negotiators. An interlocutory meeting, before the trialogue between the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament to get the go-ahead for the Turnberry deal, i.e. a 15% tariff rate, with exemptions agreed for the EU. US threats, however, could slow down the negotiations.

From Washington: 'We will soon apply tariffs at 25%'

From Washington, however, came a warning: 25% tariffs on cars and trucks will come 'relatively soon' if the Union does not quickly ratify a long-delayed trade agreement. US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder said this in an interview with Bloomberg TV. "What Trump wanted to say was, 'Look, this has been going on too long. You haven't done anything for nine months.'"

Tariffs targeted at Germany: a problem for Italia as well

From the European Parliament, the chairman of the European Parliament's trade committee Bernd Lange (S&D) said, speaking of the US tariffs, that 'it is a politically anti-German action to "target our car manufacturers in particular". This would also be a problem for Italia: 'The components sector would be affected, because many companies produce for German groups'.

Opposition attacks Urso: 'On Trump's payroll'

"We are in the middle of a trade war and you - said MP Chiara Appendino (M5S) to Urso during Question Time - not only do you not build a shield for Italia, but you dismantle our defences piece by piece. You promised 25 billion to protect companies from tariffs and you have put zero; you claim to have allocated one billion for the automotive sector but you know very well that that fund was worth four, so you have snatched three billion from a sector in agony and you even boast about it; you sabotaged Transition 5.0 by inserting bureaucratic constraints and obstacles, sinking SMEs. When will he stop acting like he is on Trump's payroll and start acting in the interests of the Italians?" he concluded

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