Opposition: 15% Tariffs Not Success, They Threaten Our Automotive Industry (2)

Bratislava, 28 July (TASR) - The Slovak opposition doesn't consider the announced tariffs of 15 percent on European goods imported to the USA to be a success, concurring that the increase in tariffs, which will mainly affect the automotive industry in Slovakia, will reduce the competitiveness of this sector and will also affect employment. 'Slovakia' party leader Igor Matovic stated that the deal on 15-percent tariffs is not a cause for celebration. "Paying 15 percent for our exports means less work, lower salaries and more unemployed. The whole of Europe will suffer, but Slovakia will suffer the most," noted Matovic. Chairwoman of the 'For the People' party Veronika Remisova warned that the increased tariffs will reduce the competitiveness of the Slovak automotive industry. "This means less production, less exports, fewer jobs, a decline in the economy and a worse quality of life for people," she added, pointing out that while some countries have negotiated exemptions for some goods under the tariffs, Slovakia's representatives have negotiated nothing for the country. The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party considers the increase in tariffs to be a defeat for all citizens. "First of all, the tariff increase, that 15 percent, is a loss for all citizens - both European and American. The Americans will pay more, the Europeans will have fewer jobs. It is simply a loss for everyone," said MP Marian Viskupic (SaS), adding that not only the citizens but also the economy will pay the price. "Raising trade barriers always harms world trade, but it also harms communication, relations between countries," he stated. According to the opposition Christina Democrats (KDH), it is good that an agreement has been reached with our biggest trading partner, the USA. However, they don't consider the level of the agreed tariffs on imports of goods from the EU to be a victory, despite the reduction compared to the original proposal. "Unfortunately, the European Union, through its Commissioner Sefcovic, hasn't been able to negotiate a better outcome. Tariffs on cars and other products of 15 percent can still be considered to be too high and risky and are very dangerous for the Slovak car industry given the current strong euro-dollar exchange rate," said KDH, adding that it's important that the EU should seek to remove these tariffs in the future. Even the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) doesn't see the EU-US trade deal as good for Europe, Slovakia and the Slovak economy. According to PS head Michal Simecka, Europe has caved in to Donald Trump's pressure and Slovakia will pay the most for it. "Despite the agreement between the EU and the US, Slovakia is the most affected country in the EU when it comes to the 15-percent tariffs on cars. And Prime Minister [Robert] Fico [Smer-SD] is cheering instead of defending our key industry. In the European Parliament, I'll ask the Commission to assess the impact of the agreement on individual sectors and propose measures for those that will be at a disadvantage - like our car industry," added MEP Lubica Karvasova (PS). European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump reached a deal to resolve a trade dispute over tariff hikes in Turnberry, Scotland, on Sunday (27 July) evening. According to Trump, the tariff rate on most EU imports to the US, including the automotive industry, will be 15 percent. The US president said that the EU agreed to buy 750 billion USD worth of energy from the US and wants to invest an additional 600 billion USD (€512 billion) in the USA. He specified that tariffs on steel and aluminium imports would remain at the current level of 50 percent. am/mcs