[Source/Observer Network, Zhang Jingjuan] With little progress made in US-EU trade negotiations, the EU hopes that Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Washington on April 17 can sound out Trump's stance.

However, a White House official told Politico that Trump has always believed that the EU is taking advantage of the US, so the EU will not be part of what they consider when talking.

Under tariff pressure, EU officials who are striving to reach free trade agreements in other regions have realized that the relationship between the EU and the US will never return to the past.

According to Euro News' report on April 16, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Germany's Die Zeit in an interview, "The Western world we once knew no longer exists."

Under President Trump's leadership, the relationship between Europe and the US quickly deteriorated, forcing Europe to seek allies and partners elsewhere. After the US imposed "tariff sticks," von der Leyen contacted representatives from Norway, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UAE. The EU believes that Trump's tariff policies are "neither credible nor reasonable."

"Geopolitically speaking, the world has become a global whole. Our friendship network now spans the globe," von der Leyen told Die Zeit. Everyone wants more trade with Europe, which is not only about economic ties but also about establishing common rules and predictability. "Europe is known for its predictability and reliability, which is once again being seen as very valuable."

She said that on one hand, this is very gratifying, but on the other hand, Europe also has significant responsibilities it must fulfill.

The report stated that von der Leyen described herself as a "good friend" and a "firm Atlanticist" of the US. She emphasized that despite the changes under Trump's leadership, the long-term ties across the Atlantic remain intact.

The report argued that Trump's aggressive trade policies, his rejection of multilateral systems, his threats of annexation, and his attempts at reconciliation with Russia have all alienated the US from its traditional allies.

Von der Leyen IC Photo

In discussing negotiations with the White House, von der Leyen confirmed that if negotiations fail to reach a solution, American manufactured goods and digital services may become targets for retaliation. Brussels hopes that Trump's proposed 90-day suspension and von der Leyen's response can lead to a compromise, ultimately canceling or significantly reducing these large-scale tariffs.

"We are stating our position, and the Americans are doing the same. That is the essence of any negotiation: nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. I believe that whether it is industrial products trade or digital products trade, we have the right to clarify the situation on all sides," von der Leyen said.

Von der Leyen previously revealed in an exclusive interview with the Financial Times that if negotiations with the US government over tariffs fail to reach a solution, she is prepared to expand the transatlantic trade war into the service sector, possibly taxing digital advertising revenue, which would directly impact major US tech giants like Google and Facebook.

It is worth noting that while the EU was strategizing responses to US tariff policies, Maroš Šefčovič, the EU commissioner responsible for trade and economic security, met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik in Washington on April 14 to discuss how to eliminate US-imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs, as well as steel, aluminum, and automobile tariffs.

The European Commission stated that despite two hours of talks between both sides' trade negotiators, no progress was made. Additionally, the US has yet to outline its demands in trade negotiations, leaving the EU at a disadvantage.

According to Politico, at this tense moment, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni decided to go to Washington on April 17 to meet Trump and probe his stance on behalf of the EU. Although Meloni is not the EU's first choice for negotiating with Trump, she might be easier to engage than Brussels' negotiators because she was the only European leader present at Trump's inauguration and is considered the most aligned leader with Trump in Europe. Her EU colleagues hope she can push Trump to reach a trade agreement to avoid further tit-for-tat tariffs.

However, a White House official said he does not think the EU is part of what Trump considers when talking with European leaders, as Trump believes the EU is taking advantage of the US (He views the EU as ripping off the United States). Trump has maintained positive and close relations with some countries' leaders, but he will not mix them together.

The report pointed out that so far, contact between the White House and European leaders has not stopped Trump from wielding the "tariff stick" against the EU.

Former Italian senior diplomat Stefano Stefanini told the Financial Times that Meloni is likely to emphasize the damage caused by US tariffs to Italy, which is a country Trump claims to "love," with $70 billion worth of goods imported from Italy last year.

Stefanini also noted that discussing "transatlantic solidarity" with Trump is a waste of time; "national interests" are the language he prefers.

Meloni IC Photo

In the interview, von der Leyen emphasized, "If market access conditions for major trading partners like the US become more difficult, it is obvious that we will seek new trading partners to facilitate our companies' entry into new markets."

On April 10, the EU Commission President stated that the EU will further turn toward Asia and expressed intentions to explore enhanced cooperation with members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Regarding this, China's Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian said that both China and the EU are advocates of economic globalization and trade liberalization, and staunch supporters and defenders of the WTO. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. China is willing to work with the EU to strengthen dialogue and communication, expand mutual openness, deepen practical cooperation, jointly maintain a multilateral trading system centered on the WTO, based on rules, ensure the stability and smoothness of global industrial and supply chains, and inject more certainty and positive energy into the world economy through the independence and stability of Sino-European economic and trade relations.

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494299646139875851/

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