Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that tariffs cause trade tensions and have a negative impact on the global trade system as a whole.
“The EU is the USA’s largest trading and investment partner, and trade tensions do not benefit either side,” Tsahkna said.
“Above all, the EU needs to be united in its response. We have a common market and we are in close contact with the European Commission that is working on a package of countermeasures. The EU must stand up for its interests,” Tsahkna said. “The Commission is of course ready to engage in dialogue and negotiations with the USA. Estonia supports the work of the Commission.”
The foreign minister added that it was significant that tariffs were imposed on a number of allies but not on Russia.
“As Russia is waging a brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and has not shown any readiness to end the war, it would be only right that Russia is the one being subjected to strong economic pressure via sanctions and tariffs,” Tsahkna said. He commended the fact that the United States recently extended its sanctions against Russia, and welcomed the initiative by senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal to impose additional sanctions if Russia does not agree to a lasting peace with Ukraine.
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