'Our time and effort fully invested': EU scrambles to secure trade deal after US court reject Trump tariffs

EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic - File Photo

The European Union is intensifying efforts to strike a trade deal with the United States, hoping to stave off a fresh wave of tariffs after a US court deemed President Donald Trump's sweeping import duties unconstitutional.

On Friday, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said the bloc was “fully invested” in reaching a solution that would avoid a major transatlantic trade rift. His remarks came after a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that Trump had overstepped his presidential authority by imposing a raft of tariffs without congressional approval.

“Our time and effort [are] fully invested, as delivering forward-looking solutions remains a top EU priority,” Sefcovic posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that he remains “in permanent contact” with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick following a call on Thursday.

The ruling from the US court earlier this week declared that Trump’s “reciprocal tariff” orders violated legal limits, sending shockwaves through global trade circles. The controversial tariffs, initially justified under the guise of national security, had affected a wide range of EU goods, including steel, aluminum, cars, and agricultural products.

Critics had long argued that the tariffs amounted to economic bullying and risked triggering retaliatory measures from key US allies. With the court’s decision, much of Trump’s trade agenda, particularly the authority to bypass Congress to impose levies, has now been legally disarmed.

The EU, which has repeatedly condemned the Trump-era tariffs as protectionist and illegal under WTO rules, is now pushing to use the court ruling as a springboard to renegotiate trade terms with Washington.