[Source/Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] Earlier, a report about the "EU preparing to accept a 10% tariff from the US" caused market speculation.

However, an EU spokesperson denied such claims. He said that the relevant report was "speculation and does not reflect the current negotiation status." The trade negotiations between Europe and the US are still ongoing, and no agreement has been reached so far. The EU has opposed the US "unjust and illegal tariffs" from the very beginning.

On June 16, Politico quoted Paula Pinho (Paula Pinho), the EU's chief spokesperson, as saying that the EU is not prepared to accept the US's proposed 10% global benchmark tariff.

Pinho said that the EU and the US have been stuck in technical and political negotiations to resolve the ongoing trade conflict, but media reports about the "EU accepting the US's 10% tariff on all exports" were "speculation and do not reflect the current negotiation status."

"The negotiations are still ongoing, and no agreement has been reached at this stage. From the very beginning, the EU has opposed the US's unreasonable and illegal tariffs," he added.

According to a report by the German newspaper Handelsblatt on June 16, citing high-level EU negotiators, the EU hopes to avoid higher tariffs on cars, medicines, and electronics from the US by agreeing to accept a 10% tariff on all EU exports to the US. However, this proposal will only be made under specific conditions and will not be permanent.

Aerial view of the Port of Hamburg, Germany, on April 15, 2025. Visual China.

The Handelsblatt also pointed out that as a return, the EU is prepared to reduce tariffs on American-made cars and may take measures to facilitate the sale of American-made vehicles in Europe.

The EU has also proposed a complete ban on purchasing Russian natural gas, which could increase demand for American producers.

Like most countries, the US currently imposes a 10% benchmark tariff on the EU. Trump threatened that if no agreement is reached before July 9, the EU will face a 50% punitive tariff. The US has already imposed a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tariff on cars.

The EU side has repeatedly proposed to Trump a zero-tariff, zero-subsidy, zero-barrier mutual exemption agreement on industrial products, but this proposal has stalled in recent weeks.

Before the G7 summit in Canada from June 15 to 17, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, jointly appealed to Trump to end this tariff war, although they did not mention him directly.

"As agreed by President von der Leyen of the European Commission and President Trump, the Commission remains fully committed to seeking a common solution before July 9," Pinho said. "We clearly prefer a balanced and mutually beneficial outcome through negotiations. However, if we cannot reach a satisfactory agreement, we will retain all response tools and options."

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