Brussels, 14 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Announced US tariffs of 30% on imports from the European Union would severely impact trans-Atlantic trade and supply chains, the EU's lead trade negotiator warned on Monday, as the bloc prepares countermeasures.

"There will be a huge impact on trade. It will be almost impossible to continue the trading as we are used [to] in a trans-Atlantic relationship," EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said about the threatened tariff hike from August 1.

"It prohibits the trade," stressed Šefčovič, who leads the EU negotiating team in the trade dispute with Washington.

"The trans-Atlantic supply chains would be heavily affected on both sides of [the] Atlantic," he said, adding that also the US would not want such a scenario.

The EU was showing "enormous patience, enormous creativity to find the solutions" with the US, he said.

US President Donald Trump recently fired off a barrage of letters to foreign leaders informing them of the steep new tariffs he intends to impose on their goods as of August 1. He also announced 30% tariffs on Mexico on Saturday.

At the same time, he extended a 90-day pause on his so-called reciprocal tariffs first announced on April 2.

Trump's announcement that he is imposing additional tariffs came as EU negotiators were hoping that an agreement with Washington was within reach.

Trade ministers mull response

EU trade ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday to mull how to respond to the announcement, preparing a set of possible countermeasures.

"We don't want any kind of trade war. It is in no one's interest," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who is chairing the meeting.

"We want a fair deal. But of course, if we are met with tariffs, which is unfair, we should be ready to countermeasure this," he added.

In May, the European Commission proposed a list of US imports worth up to €95 billion (€111 billion) on which counter-tariffs could be imposed if negotiations with Washington do not lead to a solution to the trade conflict.

The commission has been collecting feedback from member states and industry representatives in the past few weeks.

The list covers mainly industrial and agricultural goods and came in addition to a proposal to restrict EU exports of steel scrap and chemical products to the US worth €4.4 billion.

Counter-tariffs have already been agreed in the event that the US does not lift the tariffs on steel and aluminium imports introduced a few months ago.

According to previous EU statements, they affect US exports worth a total of €21 billion and will come into force if no agreement is reached.

"If you want peace, you have to prepare for war," Løkke Rasmusse said.

Šefčovič, who is attending the meeting of EU trade ministers, said he will discuss possible countermeasures with ministers to be prepared in case negotiations fail.

EU still hopes for trade agreement

Despite the disappointment about the tariff announcement, Šefčovič is still aiming for a negotiated solution, announcing new talks with his US counterparts later on Monday.

"I cannot imagine walking away without genuine effort," he added.

Šefčovič added that part of the EU's strategy to deal with the tariffs dispute with Washington was to engage with "like-minded partners" and diversify trade relations.

Løkke Rasmussen listed a trade agreement with South American countries and negotiations with Indonesia as successes.

On Monday, EU trade ministers are also to discuss the bloc's commercial relations with China.

Photo: European Parliament