President of the European Commission, von der Leyen defends the trade agreement: The only ones who would celebrate a US-EU trade war would be Moscow and Beijing
On Sunday, von der Leyen published an article on the trade agreement reached in late July, stating, "There have been many articles discussing this agreement. Some issues need to be directly addressed. This agreement reflects a conscious decision - stability and predictability, rather than escalation and confrontation."
In a signed article published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on the same day, titled "A strong agreement, even if not perfect," von der Leyen wrote: "Every day, goods and services worth over 4.6 billion euros cross the Atlantic. The annual trade volume of 1.68 trillion euros between the EU and the US is the most comprehensive trade relationship in the world. That's why the agreement reached last month is so important."
Von der Leyen pointed out, "There have been many articles discussing this agreement. Some issues need to be directly addressed. This agreement reflects a conscious decision - stability and predictability, rather than escalation and confrontation."
Von der Leyen said, "Imagine if the two largest economic powers in the democratic world failed to reach an agreement and launched a trade war - the only ones who would celebrate would be in Moscow and Beijing. Instead, we have reached a strong agreement, although not perfect."
However, von der Leyen stated frankly, "We believe that tariffs are a tax on consumers and businesses. They lead to higher costs, fewer choices, and weaken the competitiveness of economies. Imposing retaliatory tariffs could escalate into a costly trade war, negatively affecting our workers, consumers, and industries. Moreover, all escalations cannot change one thing: the US insists on a higher and more unpredictable tariff system."
Von der Leyen mentioned, "The most important aspect of our agreement is that we set a very clear 15% tariff ceiling for most EU products, including cars and medicines. By establishing a clear, comprehensive tariff ceiling, this agreement brings clarity and stability for millions of Europeans who depend on trade with the US for their livelihoods."
Von der Leyen continued, "The US imposes a 15% tariff rate, which is a comprehensive rate. Only the EU has this exclusive tariff ceiling covering all goods: 15%, without any additional taxes. This makes our agreement different from those the US has reached with other countries, which add new benchmark tariff rates on top of existing ones. This allows European goods to enter the US market under more favorable conditions, giving significant advantages to EU companies."
Von der Leyen mentioned, "We are the only partner to receive exclusive protection for tariff ceilings in the pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and timber industries. Additionally, we have zero tariffs on strategic products such as aircraft parts and generic drugs. These are not abstract categories; these products are crucial to Europe's competitiveness. Not imposing tariffs on these products is beneficial for both the EU and the US. Both sides are committed to continuing efforts to expand the list of products."
Von der Leyen emphasized, "At the same time, the EU has always adhered to its fundamental principles. Our rules remain unchanged. We decide autonomously how to best safeguard food safety, protect European citizens' cybersecurity, and ensure health and safety. This agreement preserves our values and also serves our interests."
Von der Leyen said, "This agreement marks the end of a chapter, but the story of Europe's future prosperity continues. Our economic relationship with the US is perhaps our most important one, but it is only part of a broader picture. The US is Europe's largest export market, but only about 20% of our goods are exported to the US."
Von der Leyen added, "That's why Europe will continue to strengthen and diversify its global trade relations to promote EU exports, create jobs, and drive growth. That's why we recently concluded trade agreements with Mexico and Mercosur, and deepened our relationships with Switzerland and the UK. That's why we completed negotiations with Indonesia and plan to conclude an agreement with India by the end of the year. These partnerships strengthen our trust and cooperation, enabling us to address common global challenges, including the modernization of a rules-based trading system."
Von der Leyen stated, "But above all, Europe must enhance its ability to cope with an increasingly turbulent world. It starts here - building a single market. As Draghi said, high internal barriers and regulatory fragmentation harm economic growth more than any third country's tariffs. Currently, trade between EU member states is less than half of that between US states."
Von der Leyen reiterated, "If Europe wants to realize its full potential, this is our most urgent challenge. From reducing bureaucracy to cross-border services, we clearly know where to start to enhance Europe's competitiveness. The current European Commission is fully committed to achieving this goal."
Von der Leyen said, "Europe remains focused on long-term goals. We have the responsibility to improve the single market, enhance our competitiveness and sustainability in future industries, and ensure that Europe continues to be a pillar of stability in an increasingly uncertain world. If we want a strong and independent Europe, we need ambition and unity to shape it together."
Source: rfi
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841382344317952/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author."