The European Commission issued a public statement Friday saying it would preserve the ability to act in defence of EU interests if Washington adopts policies that are at odds with the Joint Statement agreed between the European Union and the United States last year.
The Commission's comment came in the wake of an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that he planned to raise tariffs on car and truck imports from the EU to 25% next week. In its response, the EU executive disputed the President's assertion that the EU was not honouring its obligations under the transatlantic understanding.
According to the Commission, the EU has been following established EU legislative procedures while keeping U.S. officials apprised of developments throughout the process. The statement emphasised a commitment to maintaining a stable and mutually beneficial transatlantic relationship.
"We remain fully committed to a predictable, mutually beneficial transatlantic relationship. Should the U.S. take measures inconsistent with the Joint Statement, we will keep our options open to protect EU interests," a Commission spokesperson said.
The Commission framed its remarks as consistent with normal EU practice and as part of a broader effort to ensure that both sides remain informed of relevant legislative steps. The exact form any EU response might take was not specified in the statement, which instead reiterated the EU's readiness to preserve its options should U.S. actions deviate from the terms set out in the Joint Statement.
Officials in Brussels also publicly rejected the claim that the EU had failed to comply with its side of the agreement, underlining that the Union's approach has been to follow its standard internal procedures while maintaining communication with Washington.
Summary of the development: the Commission signalled willingness to act if the U.S. pursues measures it considers inconsistent with the trade agreement, after the U.S. announcement of higher auto tariffs and the U.S. claim of EU non-compliance.