EU countries, Gill added, \u201chave insisted to us that only a negotiated solution could ensure stability and protect our shared interests. This was the view of an overwhelming majority of EU member states,\u201d including Germany.<\/p>\n
A Commission official granted anonymity to speak freely said \u201conly a small minority\u201d of countries wanted to risk a trade war with the U.S. \u201cMember states pushed for this outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
Klingbeil is in Washington to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Ahead of the visit, the German minister said of the trade deal: \u201cI think we were too weak, and we cannot be satisfied with the result that was achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n
The deal\u00a0sets a baseline tariff of 15 percent<\/a>\u00a0on EU imports to the U.S.; the EU will not hit U.S. exports with new fees and agreed to cut tariffs on American cars to zero. <\/p>\n However, steel and aluminum are not included and they face a separate 50 percent tariff. While the EU has been\u00a0saying the two sides agreed to negotiate new quotas<\/a>\u00a0based on historic trade flows, the U.S. has not acknowledged that so far.<\/p>\n Klingbeil said he wants to see if the U.S. is willing to negotiate on steel and aluminum, although such talks are conducted by the European Commission and not by the bloc’s member countries.<\/p>\n