EU should safeguard multilateralism and fair play

Before the July 9 deadline for trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union, it seems a consensus has yet to emerge among the EU member states on whether they need to coordinate their positions and be prepared to take more countermeasures against the US, joining hands to oppose its trade bullying.

Currently, the US is imposing a 50 percent tariff on EU steel and aluminum products, a 25 percent tariff on the automotive sector, and a 10 percent base tariff on almost all other goods. US President Donald Trump has also threatened that if there is no breakthrough in US-EU trade negotiations before July 9, he will impose a 50 percent tariff on EU goods.

In response, the EU decided to impose tariffs of up to 50 percent on US imports totaling 21 billion euros ($24.64 billion). But in order to leave time for trade negotiations, this retaliatory measure has been postponed to July 14.