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Proposal for a Worker Radiation Safety Directive requested from the Commission amid concerns over radiation exposure risks.

Trump's correspondence has prompted EP committee head Lange to exhaust his tolerance

Commission to Propose Directive Safeguarding Laborers from Ionising Radiation Hazards
Commission to Propose Directive Safeguarding Laborers from Ionising Radiation Hazards

Trump's Correspondence Sparks EP Committee Chair Lange's Call for Tolerance's Limit - Proposal for a Worker Radiation Safety Directive requested from the Commission amid concerns over radiation exposure risks.

In a recent development, US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 30% tariff on imports from the EU and Mexico, effective August 1. This decision, which escalates the ongoing trade conflict, follows weeks of unsuccessful negotiations aimed at a comprehensive trade agreement [2][3].

Trump justified his tariff policy by citing the large and unsustainable trade deficits he claims result from EU tariff and non-tariff barriers, which he also labelled as a national security threat [3]. In a letter to the EU, Trump demanded that Europe drop its own tariffs, implying this as a condition for any future trade deal [2].

Trump's announcement was met with a cautious response from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who expressed concern that the proposed 30% tariffs would harm businesses, consumers, and patients on both sides of the Atlantic. However, she expressed a willingness to continue negotiations towards an agreement by August 1 [3].

The EU had been close to a preliminary agreement that would ease tariff tensions, with talks settling on a baseline tariff rate of 10% on EU goods entering the US, along with exemptions for some sectors like aircraft and spirits. However, comprehensive negotiations on other major sectors such as cars, aluminium, steel, and pharmaceuticals remain difficult and unresolved [1].

Within the EU, member states are divided: some, like Germany and Italy, favour a cautious, non-escalatory approach due to their high trade exposure to the US, while others, notably France, advocate a stronger stance [1]. The EU has also prepared retaliation lists targeting US products valued at €21 billion (suspended until July 14) and a larger €95 billion list under consideration, indicating readiness to defend its interests if necessary [1].

Despite Trump's escalation, EU officials see the tariff threats as a negotiating tactic [2]. The coming weeks are crucial as the EU and US must balance the risks of escalating tariffs with the potential to finalize a trade deal. The EU hopes a quick deal could be reached "in a matter of days" to avoid the damaging effects of these tariffs on both economies [4].

Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament's trade committee, described Donald Trump's tariff letter to the EU as "arrogance." Lange suggested that the EU should seriously consider the EU instrument against coercive measures as a response to Trump's tariff increase [5]. Lange did not mention any new countermeasures or instruments against coercive measures in this paragraph.

In last week's negotiations, Lange mentioned the recognition of standards and certification processes, as well as the development of investment opportunities, as points where the EU accommodated Trump [6]. However, Lange believes that Trump's tariff increase is a slap in the face for negotiations [7].

The current status of the trade dispute between the EU and the US is tense and complex, with a clear risk of escalation if no compromise is reached by the August 1 deadline [1][2][3][4]. The situation remains fluid and highly sensitive, with a need for both parties to find a mutually agreeable solution to avoid further economic harm.

  1. The ongoing trade conflict between the EU and the US, sparked by President Trump's tariff policy, has been labeled as a matter of policy-and-legislation and politics, with general news discussing the escalating situation daily.
  2. Trump's tariff policy, characterized as a national security threat, has prompted the EU to prepare retaliation lists and consider the EU instrument against coercive measures, as negotiations towards a comprehensive trade agreement continue in a tense and complex political environment.

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