The EU seeks to resume negotiations with the US on steel tariffs

European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič will meet with US Trade Representative Jason Greer to try to resume negotiations on reducing tariffs on steel and aluminum exports, Bloomberg reports.

Šefčovič and Greer will meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial summit in Kuala Lumpur, where the former plans to raise the issue.

The European Commission has proposed that the US abolish or significantly reduce tariffs, but has not received a response from the US, the European Commissioner for Trade said in an interview with the agency.

“The most logical step would be to introduce a tariff quota with low or no tariffs,” he explained.

Šefčovič added that it is premature to give further explanations in the absence of a response to this proposal. However, the EC is aware of its importance for the industry and is constantly putting it up for consideration.

The EU’s proposal is a continuation of the trade agreement that the bloc concluded with the US in July this year. The United States imposed a 15% tariff on most European goods, while the bloc pledged to lift its tariffs on American industrial products. The EU said that the parties also promised to work on reducing the 50% tariff on steel and aluminum for Europe.

In August 2025, the US also imposed a 50% tariff on more than 400 new items – goods derived from steel and aluminum.

It should be recalled that the UK suspended negotiations with the US on reducing tariffs on steel and aluminum ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit. Instead, the British government is seeking to agree on a permanent guarantee of a 25% tariff level.