European giants, in which firms such as Mercedes-Benz, LVMH and BMW in the head support negotiations with the “rear door” with the United States to try to save themselves from US tariff threats. Some movements that may weaken the negotiations of the European Commission itself.
In an attempt to avoid transatlantic commercial war, some leaders held unofficial meetings with high US posts to protect their interests. Both, They insist on Brussels to close an agreement that allows you to reduce tariffs in exchange for increasing investment in the United States. And to exclude cult American products, such as Bourbon, from the list of potential victims of European “colleagues”, according to the Bloomberg agency.
CEO of three companies went to Washington to meet closed doors with Trump’s allies, but They have achieved little progress, despite the peaceful proposalsThe BMW field announced new investments in the United States, Mercedes transferred the production of the GLC SUV – one of the best models of the brand – Alabame, and the Swedish Volvo committed itself to expand production in an American country. The European authorities are concerned that companies can also seduce their suppliers to transfer some investments and production throughout the Atlantic. Similarly, several European pharmacists promised to invest billions in the development and production of drugs in the United States.
President LVMH, Bernard Arno, warned that Non -achievement of an agreement may be catastrophic for the French wine industry and spirits And he advocated an obligation instead of a conflict, even proposing the existence of a free trade zone between the EU and the United States. “I hope to achieve with my modest resources and my contacts to convince Europe to accept the most constructive attitude as possible,” Arno told the French National Assembly in May.
In addition, industrial groups, which represent the French manufacturers of Coñac and Irish whiskey, also strengthened their “lobbying” efforts, warning that retaliation tariffs will affect the sector in which the United States and China represent more than 80% of their exports.
For European administrative councils, this moment is delicate. During Trump’s first mandate, the solid growth of China and the EU slightly reduced the importance of the United States, and there was no war in Ukraine. But now domestic demand is slow, Chinese competition is intensifying, and the loss of cheap Russian energy increases costs, which makes the United States even more important.
“There is already a significant decrease in direct investment,” said David Deissner, managing director of the German Family and Political Business Fund, at the press conference held this week in Berlin. “Tariff measures are already acting as a commercial barrier.”
Among the member countries there is a department of opinionsAmong those who propose to accept asymmetric consent, which damage the United States less, and those who prefer to fight Trump’s eye, using equivalent opposition. The main requirement is the exemption of tariffs for key sectors, such as aviation or cars. Negotiations are “close to the achievement of a technical agreement on the principle,” they say.
Any agreement ultimately depends on Trump, and, according to Bloomberg, the scenarios planned for the next week vary from the already firm agreement, which reduces them, preliminary, which increases them to the signing of one final, or that Trump announces unilateral tariffs.
