Brussels, 7 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - European Union trade ministers are meeting in Luxembourg on Monday to sound out a strategy to convince US President Donald Trump to backtrack on new tariffs imposed on the bloc.

EU ministers are also expected to discuss reciprocal tariffs as well as other retaliatory measures which would be implemented in case efforts to negotiate a solution with Washington fail.

The US government introduced universal tariffs of a minimum of 10% on imports from almost all its trading partners on Saturday, after Trump announced them earlier last week.

Significantly higher levies will apply for some countries, depending on trade deficits. Imports from European Union countries to the US face new tariffs of 20% starting on Wednesday.

Germany will be represented by outgoing Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who, like many of his EU counterparts fears that Trump's new tariffs will have serious consequences for the global ecomony.

Trump says he aims to counter alleged trade imbalances while convincing manufacturers to produce in the US. He is also looking to fund large-scale tax cuts, a central campaign promise.

Ministers will also discuss trade relations with China, with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič due to brief them on his recent talks in Beijing.

The EU has been trying to convince China for years to end trade practices including subsidies that the bloc considers to be distorting competition.

Chinese imports to the EU outweighed exports from the bloc to China by €304.5 billion ($333.5 billion) last year. By contrast, the EU recorded a significant surplus of €198.2 billion euros in trade in goods with the US.

In 2024, goods worth €531.6 billion were exported to the United States, with only €333.4 billion worth of goods imported. In the services sector, on the other hand, the EU has a trade deficit with the US.

MIA file photo