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EU-Handelschef: Bereit zu Gesprächen mit USA über Digitalregeln, aber ohne Abbau der Regeln
Nach monatelangem Druck aus den USA erklärte EU-Handelskommissar Maroš Šefčovič Euronews, Brüssel starte einen „digitalen Dialog“ mit Washington. Die US-Zölle auf Stahl und Aluminium aus der EU bleiben jedoch vorerst bestehen.
LESEN SIE MEHR : http://de.euronews.com/2026/04/30/eu-handelschef-bereit-zu-gesprachen-mit-usa-uber-digitalregeln-aber-ohne-abbau-der-regeln
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Nach monatelangem Druck aus den USA erklärte EU-Handelskommissar Maroš Šefčovič Euronews, Brüssel starte einen „digitalen Dialog“ mit Washington. Die US-Zölle auf Stahl und Aluminium aus der EU bleiben jedoch vorerst bestehen.
LESEN SIE MEHR : http://de.euronews.com/2026/04/30/eu-handelschef-bereit-zu-gesprachen-mit-usa-uber-digitalregeln-aber-ohne-abbau-der-regeln
Abonnieren Sie! Euronews gibt es in 12 Sprachen.
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NewsTranskript
00:00Vielen Dank.
00:30The deals the EU makes with the U.S. are tilted in the favor of the Trump administration.
00:34Is that fair?
00:35And if not, what is Europe going to take out of this?
00:38I think that the best proof that the deal we made is a fair one is actually the fact that
00:44it didn't affect our trade in negative terms, that our exports actually been growing.
00:50And I think that it provided, first, stability, more predictability for our exporters.
00:56And it created that platform, which actually allows to have such a high level visits and
01:01meetings as I had in Washington and really go directly after the problem when they appear.
01:06And the problems that have appeared, you say this is a deal that works for both, but there
01:11are still pending issues.
01:12And you've said you're trying to tackle them forcefully.
01:15And that is when you look at steel and aluminum, steel tariffs at 50 percent, that is prohibitive
01:19for European companies.
01:21The story has been dragging on for months now.
01:23Now, did you make any progress?
01:25Of course, I mean, we studied carefully, I would say, this change of the measures in
01:32the sectors.
01:33And indeed, you're right also from our assessment, this is a mixed bag.
01:37There is a big part of the products which are so-called delisted.
01:40I also have to say that a big part of the administrative burden was removed.
01:47But still, there is quite a lot of products which are now tariffed more than before.
01:52And this is a big issue for our exporters.
01:56And I know that I got very clear negative reactions from the European Parliament.
02:03So that's something what we raised with my colleagues.
02:06We also presented our analysis and we immediately instructed our teams to deal with that more
02:13concretely.
02:14And of course, this would be one of the topics which I hope to take up again with Ambassador
02:18Greer when we see each other at the next G7 meeting.
02:21And but just specifically in the steel and aluminum, because again, the producers are saying
02:24this story has been dragging on now for months.
02:2750 percent, and you know this very well, it's almost prohibitive for anyone in this industry.
02:31And they say they're not seeing steps for resolution.
02:34Are you seeing steps for resolutions?
02:36Or frankly, let's be honest, nothing is practically moving.
02:39As I said, something has moved because, I mean...
02:41What makes you believe that?
02:42I think, I mean, if you look at the latest changes, I would say, to how they treat the
02:47derivatives.
02:48So indeed, a big part of the products was delisted.
02:50So, I mean, they are out of this very high tariff category.
02:55Then, as I said, administrative burden, which was really excessive, was significantly reduced.
03:01But we still have a problem.
03:02That's very clear.
03:03And therefore, I put on the table again the idea which we kind of arrived at together
03:11last year to create this steel ring, which I believe is the best solution for both of
03:16us, because we do not have the problem with our mutual steel trade.
03:19We have problem with the excessive capacity, which is hitting the global market.
03:24Of China.
03:24I think it's not China only.
03:26I mean, it comes from other sources as well.
03:30But I just give you the number.
03:31Next year, we accept 720 million tons of excessive capacity of steel.
03:35And European consumption is 140 million.
03:38So it's like, what is it, five times, six times more than we consume in Europe.
03:41So we're going to penalize both ways.
03:42Exactly.
03:43I mean, they have a problem with excessive capacities.
03:45We have a problem with excessive capacities.
03:47So I do not understand why we should hit each other.
03:49And as we get penalized both ways, you just delivered the numbers on top of the tariff
03:53that they have put on the Europeans.
03:55What is their way forward, however?
03:57And I wonder, is this not really making progress at speed because it is connected to digital
04:02services?
04:03They have indicated they do see a relation.
04:05I think that how to make progress in this case, I was explaining in great detail our, let's
04:13say, newly adopted steel safeguard.
04:16The fact that we are reducing imports to the EU by 47 percent and we have so-called out-of
04:21-quota
04:22tariffs also on 50 percent.
04:23So our defensive measures, if it comes to the steel sectors, are very similar.
04:28So it creates a recognition for having, I would say, this steel ring approach.
04:33And I hope that we will make some headway in that regard.
04:36And the U.S., just to close on this chapter, however, they do make a form of amalgamation
04:40between the trade and the digital services and the taxes and also penalties on U.S. digital
04:46companies operating in Europe.
04:47Did you make it clear that there is no connection?
04:50Did they once again push you to say they want to see a watered down legislation on digital
04:54services?
04:55How did this conversation go?
04:56Because they do make a link.
04:57I think that from our perspective, it's very clear that if it comes to digital sovereignty,
05:05it's for us to decide.
05:07And so you will not give anything.
05:09What we are, we are not, we cannot give anything what concerns our legislation, but we are ready
05:14to talk, to explain.
05:16And I think what we both need is a digital dialogue.
05:20So I'm also discussing with my colleagues who have direct responsibility for this matter,
05:25be it Executive Vice President Rivera or Executive Vice President Virkunen, because in many aspects,
05:31again, we have a very common task.
05:34What do we want and what do we don't want that would appear on the screens for our children?
05:40What kind of content, content we are absolutely sure that it shouldn't appear in any computer
05:46and how we want to make sure that we would have a fair competition among, you know, the operators
05:52on the digital market.
05:54So there is a lot of things to discuss.
05:56And I think that in the past we had a quite good experience with Trade and Technological Council.
06:05And I believe that we would need some kind of alternative when we can have this high-level
06:08political discussions on all sectors.
06:11So that's a very interesting point, because the Tag and Trade Council was precisely designed
06:15to talk about those topics.
06:16Are you suggesting that the format, perhaps, is no longer fit for the Trump administration?
06:21Maybe a new format could be needed?
06:23That's my, I would say, personal view, because when we've been brainstorming how to, you know,
06:29push our relationship forward.
06:30I mean, for us, the joint statement is a platform.
06:33Therefore, I believe that both of us, we have to deliver on our commitments.
06:36And based on this platform, I think we need to have a body where we can have, I would say,
06:44this discussion as between the biggest trading partners and closest allies.
06:49Because in many of the areas, we have very similar concerns and similar worries.
06:53And I think this is what we would need.
06:55I know that what I heard from the U.S. side was they just want to avoid to have some
07:00kind
07:00of formal structure, which they would describe as a talking show.
07:04They would like to have a structure which would really lead to the discussion on different
07:09levels and could bring really, I would say, results which would be good for both of us.
07:14So the U.S. is saying that Tag and Trade, they rather prefer direct bilateral talks,
07:18not in a very structural format.
07:20I don't think that we are in that level of discussion yet.
07:24We were just, you know, looking how this could be shared.
07:28But we see that our trade and cooperation is so diverse that clearly you need, you know,
07:35the regular discussion on the irritants which are coming from the both sides,
07:42on the challenges we are ahead of sight, and also where we can charge the cooperation
07:46for the, you know, for the next period.
07:49And now I want to talk about China, because this week the Chinese Trade Ministry came out
07:55with a statement, guns blazing almost, saying that some of the proposals that the EU and
08:00the Commission have put forward, certainly when it comes to the European industry made in
08:04Europe, are targeting China and they are discriminating Chinese companies.
08:08If they do not get addressed their concerns, they threaten now countermeasures.
08:12Are we heading into a trade war with the Chinese?
08:14We are not interested in any trade wars.
08:17And I made it clear from the day one, and I engaged from the day one with our Chinese
08:22counterparts.
08:23I was in Beijing.
08:24We had a meeting with Vice Prime Minister Helifeng, and I'm in regular contact with my
08:28counterpart, Van Guentao.
08:30And I was passing very consistently the same message.
08:35We cannot have a trade deficit, 1 billion euros a day.
08:39We cannot have deficit, 360 billion a year.
08:43It's simply unsustainable.
08:44Which is not improving.
08:45It's getting worse.
08:46It's getting worse.
08:47I have, of course, very strong economic and political reaction stemming from that.
08:52We just have to also completely reform also how our customs unit is operating, because between
08:592020 and 2026, we went from one to six billion parcels coming from China with all the results
09:08when you really control the content of the parcels, which are publicly available.
09:12So what I want is to have a constructive engagement with my Chinese counterparts.
09:16How are you going to deal with this challenge?
09:18Because I believe that also understand that this is not sustainable.
09:21I think there are very strong industrial policies in China.
09:25You have the same in US, in Canada, in Japan, in Korea.
09:29So nobody, I mean, should be surprised that European Union, especially if it comes to the
09:33public money and public funds, want also to be promoting.
09:38But I wonder, when the Chinese say the EU should not underestimate China's resolve to protect
09:44the legitimate interests of Chinese companies, and it could put forward measures to counteract
09:50those same proposals, is that a threat?
09:52I think clearly what is very important here is to avoid threats and to have constructive engagement.
10:00Do you like that tone?
10:01When they put out a statement like that, is that acceptable to you, to immediately go into
10:06countermeasures?
10:06I think that, I think we as a, let's say, trade ministers and trade commissioners, we have
10:14a huge responsibility in front of our economic operators.
10:20Therefore, I think what we need is indeed strategic patience, lots of courage to deal with the difficult
10:26issues, because the war is easy to declare, but it's very difficult to stop.
10:31And therefore, I think what we need is to have regular structured talk also with China.
10:38Therefore, I invited also Chinese foreign ministers to visit Brussels, because I think that we need
10:43really to have very thorough assessment.
10:45government, what is the current situation and what is the plans for the future?
10:51Because I think that also from their perspective, it's clear that we cannot have this space of
10:56growing trade deficit with China, because that would be simply politically and economically
11:00not feasible.
11:01But they don't seem to want to address it, at least not at speed.
11:04But I wonder, there is a pattern now in which every time the European Union tries to put
11:08forward measures to become stronger, to revive its industrial base, to become more sovereign
11:14in a very tough global environment, immediately there's a pattern of threats, potential retaliation
11:20coming from China.
11:21China.
11:22Can you work like this?
11:23I think I would definitely prefer, you know, to solve our problems before we are resorting
11:32to these measures.
11:32And I would just also invite, as I did, some of our Chinese counterparts to compare our policies
11:41to the policies how they treat European businesses and how they treat, you know, the European companies
11:50in China.
11:50And that's a very consistent message which we from the EU are passing over for the years.
11:56So I think that now we are entering, I would say, the level where we really need to adopt
12:03the concrete measures, because today we are in such a fast-pacing world that in one year
12:08you can lose the whole industry.
12:10And therefore, I think that there is a resolve from the European member states to do much more
12:15to protect the jobs, to protect the businesses, to protect the economic performance in the European
12:19Union.
12:19And it's just pretty natural.
12:20And you see it in all other countries in the world.
12:23And China clearly is turbocharging its companies through a very aggressive state subsidy policy.
12:27That is a reality.
12:29Have you considered, maybe even prepared to say, if this continues, we're going to have
12:33to wait measures such as the anti-coercion tool?
12:36I think that we never kind of threaten our partners.
12:42We definitely don't do it in the media.
12:45We are really discussing the issues on the topic basis.
12:51And I believe there is a host of other things how we can deal with this issue.
12:55Of course, it requires...
12:57But would you say the way that you said it with regards to the US at the start of the
13:00year,
13:01that this was something the EU would not hesitate if its interests are threatened fundamentally
13:05to use?
13:05Would you apply that kind of criteria on China, too?
13:08I think that, of course, that's very clear.
13:10I mean, that...
13:11And we've been, I would say, crystal clear about that, that we would fight the tooth and
13:17nail for every European job, for every European company, for every European sector if we see
13:22that they are treated unfairly.
13:23That's our job.
13:24And therefore, we have the international rules.
13:27Therefore, we have very clear provisions how the subsidies should be offered.
13:32And therefore, our key topics for the reform of WTO was to restore level playing field
13:38and to reflect how the situation in geoeconomics has shifted from 1995 until 2026.
13:49What has changed?
13:50What is the political and economic weight of several countries?
13:54And this has to be factored in because we cannot stay the last, large, super open economy
14:00where some countries are taking advantage of.
14:02You've been all around the world cutting trade deals and the clear mandate for you now
14:05is to reach out to the world and make more deals.
14:08So, well, obviously, I'm a journalist.
14:11I would love to know who comes next.
14:12But tell us about the pipeline.
14:14Yeah, I think that if you look at, I would say, the overall strategy is actually, I can
14:20put it in a few words.
14:21We want to stabilize our relationship with the U.S., rebalance our trade with China and
14:27open new market access for our companies throughout the world.
14:30So, we concluded the agreement with India, with Mercosur, with Indonesia, with Australia.
14:36And I hope that all of these deals would enter into force this year.
14:41Tomorrow, we are starting provisionary.
14:43On India, is there any progress, any update?
14:45The Indians seem to be very keen on getting this done.
14:48Yeah, we want all the deals which we agreed upon to make sure that we would complete our
14:54ratification process this year.
14:56Of course, it's a big discussion in Europe.
14:58Before the summer?
14:59No, I think that we would need until the end of the year.
15:02The end of the year.
15:03Because of our linguistic versions, legal scrubbing and all, I would say the procedural
15:07steps.
15:07The most important thing is that deals are done.
15:09We just need to make sure that we are not losing any more opportunities because of our
15:13legal procedures to get them officially approved and ratified.
15:17You've been asking what's next.
15:19So, we are progressing very well with Philippines.
15:22So, I hope that this can be done also this year.
15:26And the next year, we have high hopes for making significant progress with Thailand and
15:32Malaysia.
15:33So, that would cover, I would say, almost all regions of ASEAN.
15:36And of course, especially after the last week when the GCC countries have been invited
15:42to the European Council, I want to use this new political momentum and dynamic to advance
15:48with the UAE.
15:49And we are also looking with the GCC if we can relaunch the trade talks with the whole
15:56region which has been on the table for more than 30 years.
16:00So, the Philippines, you're hoping that this gets done this year?
16:04We hope, yeah.
16:05I think that there are all ingredients on the table that we can conclude the negotiation
16:10with Philippines this year.
16:11That's the goal.
16:12It's very difficult to give you the more precise timetable because it also depends on political
16:16events and political availability of all actors who are involved in these negotiations.
16:21But that's the ideal plan.
16:23When it comes to the GCC, it's clear, and they have been very open about this, that they
16:27see momentum and they want to make this deal too.
16:30However, do you see this as a deal as GCC in full?
16:35Or are you now looking at bilateral deals among GCC countries because it's going to be easier?
16:40I think that not only us but also, for example, UAE and I have to say some other countries
16:47from the regions kind of felt…
16:50Like who else?
16:51I think what we heard that also Oman and others, that if there will be no kind of chance
17:01to kind of revive and bring some, I would say, momentum on the region to region negotiations
17:08that they would be ready to go on bilateral basis.
17:11But the biggest progress so far we have made with the UAE.
17:16I mean, we had several rounds of negotiations.
17:19Now we go through the most difficult chapters.
17:23But we've been very clear from the beginning that we do not see it as a separate deal.
17:28We see it as one of the building blocks of the whole region to region progress.
17:33And we see, especially also these days, that our economy is actually very complementary.
17:37So I think it would be a good deal for both of us.
17:40But we have to kind of make the progress on some of the issues which are difficult.
17:48And they are the reason why the negotiation takes such a long time.
17:51And just lastly, your colleague Savin Vejant, you put out a statement, well, a tweet in this age
17:57where you said it had been fantastic to work with her.
18:00And you really paid a tribute to the work that she did with you and for Digitrade.
18:04And in all of these very complex deals, which are fundamentally very difficult to get done.
18:08But of course, this is Brussels and people like to talk.
18:11And one of the theories going around is that she may have paid a price for being critical about the
18:18U.S.-EU deal,
18:19which of course she said was not quite a negotiation.
18:22Is there any truth to that?
18:24I think that you describe Brussels very nice, that the people here like to talk.
18:27You know, we go with Savin Vejant a long way because we've been dealing together.
18:32She was very instrumental in, I would say, getting Brexit done.
18:35So I was, and I'm still responsible for this relationship.
18:39So I know how much she did in that regard.
18:42And look at the results.
18:44I mean, we wouldn't achieve such impressive results over the last year and a half if we wouldn't be,
18:51I mean, working extremely well together with the Director General.
18:54So he's a brilliant tactician, excellent tactician.
19:00She has a huge, huge expertise.
19:02And of course, I mean, we are there to make the best possible choices.
19:07So you discuss, you ponder, you look for different options.
19:11But once we agreed upon something, we've been really working together.
19:15And she was very instrumental in all these deals, including in working on the deal with the U.S.
19:22And then, of course, on all the implementation, which was not an easy feat.
19:26So I just really would like to thank her.
19:30And I think the institutions did it because she really provided exemplary and excellent service to the European Union
19:38and to the European services and to the Commission.
19:40And there is life after the Commission.
19:42Sometimes it seems in Brussels there isn't, but there is a world out there.
19:46So, Commissioner.
19:47Absolutely, absolutely.
19:47Well, thank you very much.
19:48And my vibe reminds me of that very often.
19:50I can tell you.
19:51Keep it in mind.
19:52Commissioner, thank you very much.
19:54Thank you very much.
19:54Thank you.
19:55Thank you for having me.
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