According to Reuters, on July 23 local time, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign and Security Policy, Catherine Castel, questioned the reasons given by the US for imposing new tariffs on European goods. She said that the claims by the US that the EU has flaws in regulating forced labor were unfounded.
On the 23rd, the Trump administration imposed new tariffs on 60 countries and regions worldwide, including the EU, citing various countries’ failure to strictly enforce labor prohibitions. EU goods will be subject to an additional 10% tariff.
On that day, Karas, who was attending the ASEAN series of meetings, said during the breaks: "This argument cannot be applied to the European Union. If we compare EU labor regulations with those in the United States, where we have a paid vacation system and the working conditions for workers are very well-regulated, the accusations from the US are completely unfounded."
When asked whether the EU anticipated being included in this increased scope of tariffs, Karas responded: “No one can keep track of the constantly changing tariff policies of the United States. We had no idea about this measure at all.”
Kular said that the EU will formally question the basis for this tariff policy from the US. She pointed out that the EU adheres to all its obligations under the transatlantic trade agreement reached last year, and the sudden imposition of tariffs by the US is a major blow to Europe.
We have concluded trade agreements with the United States. The EU has also fulfilled its obligations under these agreements. She said, "The US is now reneging on this agreement, which we did not anticipate and feel deeply disappointed by."
