MNI BRIEF: EC Retaliation On Hold Despite US Tariff Blow

The European Commission will continue to refrain from tariff retaliation against the U.S. for the moment despite President Donald Trump's decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50% over the weekend, Commission Trade Spokesperson Olof Gill said on Monday.

Reaching a negotiated solution to the EU-U.S. trade dispute remains the priority, Gill said, though retaliatory measures could be announced on July 14 if not earlier should no satisfactory solution be reached in the coming weeks, Gill said.

"If those talks do not lead to a fair and balanced outcome then we are prepared to intensify our work on the defensive side,” he said. (See MNI: EU States Doubt US Will Accept Trade Offer-Officials)

A technical team is on its way to Washington to continue talks and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will meet with USTR Jameson Greer in Paris on Wednesday, Gill said.