EU's Kallas questions US rationale for tariffs on bloc, seeks clarification
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has questioned the U.S. rationale for imposing new tariffs on European goods, citing unfounded allegations regarding forced labor controls. The EU views the move as a negative surprise, given existing transatlantic trade agreements.
Why it matters
This trade dispute signals potential friction in transatlantic economic relations and challenges the current U.S. administration's trade policy.
EU European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas speaks to Reuters during an interview on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, July 24, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez By Karen Lema
MANILA, July 24 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas questioned Washington's rationale for imposing new tariffs on European goods, saying on Friday that allegations of shortcomings in the bloc's forced labour controls were unfounded.
"You can't say that for the European Union," Kallas told Reuters on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Manila.
"If you compare our labour laws to the ones of the United States, I mean, we have paid vacations, we have very good labour conditions for our employees, so it's not really grounded," she added.
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