Europe Has Been Shaken Up By Trump's New Statements On Tariffs

• 6.05.2026, 9:59

Countermeasures are being prepared.

Lithuanian Finance Minister Kristupas Vaitiekunas urged the European Union to continue negotiations with the United States, preparing countermeasures after US President Donald Trump renewed tariff threats.

This is reported by LRT.

"We must take into account that we will be in this game for the entire duration of President Trump's presidency. We have to find a response to these tariffs," Vaitiekunas told reporters in Brussels.

He also noted the importance of negotiations with Washington to avert tariffs and predicted similar pressure from the US during the current administration.

"We have to negotiate ... I believe that this process, including tariffs, negotiations and pressure from both sides, will be constant during this administration," the Lithuanian Finance Minister said.

Late last week, Donald Trump said the United States could raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union by up to 25 percent, accusing the bloc of failing to honor a previous agreement.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer said in turn that despite the agreement, the EU has yet to adjust certain tariffs or rules. The European Union rejects those claims and says it is sticking to the agreement.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Šefčovič is now scheduled to meet with Greer in Paris on the sidelines of a G7 ministerial meeting to discuss the dispute.

According to the agreement reached last year, U.S. tariffs on cars from the EU were reduced to 15 percent, down from the 25 percent rate that applied to some other countries.