Minister of Economic Affairs Hattmannsdorfer warns of US customs shock for Europe!
Minister of Economic Affairs Hattmannsdorfer warns of US customs shock for Europe!
Stubenring 1, 1010 Wien, Österreich - On July 17, 2025, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economics, Energy and Tourism (BMWET) plans a press conference on the upcoming announcement of tariffs from the USA. Federal Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer will lead the event, in which experts will respond to the impending consequences and possible countermeasures. The topic of the press conference is: "Those who are well prepared do not have to be afraid-BMWET is preparing with experts for US Customs announcement".
The event will take place on Friday, July 18, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the BMWET press center in Vienna. Harald Oberhofer, university professor for economics and economist at the WIFO will also be present. All media representatives are invited to participate, but have to register in advance by email in order to receive access. This offers an opportunity for sound and image recordings according to the official part of the press conference.
US tariffs on goods from the EU
The United States has announced that it would have 30 percent tariffs on goods from the EU, which could have a significant impact on European trade. Originally, against the USA of 21 billion euros, against the United States, against tariffs should originally come into force. However, the EU Commission postponed its countermeasures to the beginning of August in order not to endanger the possibility of a dialogue with the United States. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed hope that an agreement could be reached, while the EU has already prepared further countermeasures.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned of the negative effects of customs dispute on the German economy and called for unity in the EU and reasonable discussions with the USA. Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil also warned serious negotiations and emphasized the need to take determined countermeasures if no fair solution was found. Ines Schwerdtner from the left, on the other hand, criticized the customs plans and called for an independent European economic policy with investments in climate -neutral production.
context of transatlantic relationships
Current trade conflicts are in the context of the latest political developments in the United States, in particular Donald Trump's re -election in November 2024. During this time, the effects on transatlantic relationships were debated in the European Parliament. Leading EU MPs have asked for continued cooperation, while the Polish Minister of European Affairs Adam Szłapka emphasized the advantages of open and fair international trade.
Maroš Šefčovič from the European Commission critically commented on the announced US tariffs and their harmful effects on European companies and consumers. Bernd Lange, Chairman of the Committee on International Trade, already pointed out the possibility of introducing them against tariffs, while Sophie Wilmès emphasized the need for stronger deterrent measures against tariffs.
The further development in this matter and the reactions of the EU to the US customs announcements will have to be followed carefully in the coming weeks. The upcoming BMWET press conference could be an important step in the preparation of the EU for the new challenges.
For more information on the upcoming measures and the trading situation, see: OTS , Tagesschau , and DetailsOrt Stubenring 1, 1010 Wien, Österreich Quellen
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