EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas has rejected the Trump administration’s justification for imposing new tariffs on European Union goods, calling the claims that the EU fails to adequately protect workers’ rights completely unfounded.
“You cannot say that about the European Union. If you compare our labor legislation with that of the United States, we provide paid leave and very strong worker protections. Such accusations are simply baseless,” Kallas told Reuters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Manila.
The United States has imposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods imported from 60 trading partners, including the European Union, effective today. Washington argues that some countries are not sufficiently enforcing bans on goods produced through forced labor.
Asked whether Brussels had anticipated such a move from Washington, Kallas replied that it had not.
“Who can keep track of when tariffs are imposed and when they are lifted? We certainly did not expect this. We had a trade agreement with the United States and respected it, which is why this decision came as an unpleasant surprise,” she said.
Addressing Russia, Kallas also emphasized that the European Union’s 21st sanctions package is designed to further weaken Russia’s economy and reduce Moscow’s ability to finance its war against Ukraine.
According to Kallas, the sanctions are already producing results by making it increasingly difficult for Russia to access international capital markets. However, she stressed that sanctions are only one element of the EU’s broader strategy.
“The objective is to increase pressure on Russia so that it engages seriously in negotiations with Ukraine. Sanctions are one tool, but we are also considering additional measures that could help bring Moscow back to the negotiating table,” Kallas said.
