EU Leaders Push for Faster Deregulation Amid Trump Tariff Threats

EU leaders are set to urge the European Commission to hasten efforts to cut red tape, aiming to keep Europe competitive globally. This comes amidst threats from President Donald Trump to increase tariffs, citing EU rules that allegedly discriminate against and even censor U.S. companies.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has argued that EU deregulation benefits not just the bloc, but also its trading partners. He didn't dismiss renegotiating the EU-US trade deal terms, but only if Trump's trade protectionism starts to impact the U.S. Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing plans to address Trump's grievances, presenting the effort as part of a self-driven policy overhaul.

The Commission has been working on nine simplification packages across defense, environmental, and digital sectors to reduce red tape. Key discussions about renegotiating the EU-US trade deal, such as the one from July 2020, have involved EU officials like Maroš Šefčovič, the EU's Commissioner for Trade, and U.S. representatives like Jamieson Greer. However, specific renegotiations regarding the 2020 agreement are not detailed. Rasmussen poured cold water on the idea of a sunset clause for the EU-US trade deal, stating it won't change the current reality. France and Germany are pushing Brussels for a similar environmental deregulation drive.

EU leaders are pushing for faster red tape slashing to maintain Europe's global competitiveness. Trump's tariff threats have sparked discussions about renegotiating the EU-US trade deal, with the Commission addressing U.S. grievances while pursuing its own deregulation agenda. Key players like Šefčovič and Greer have been involved in talks, with France and Germany advocating for environmental deregulation.