US-EU Trade Instability 'Not Good for Business': Jozef Síkela

Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships at the EU Commission, says he is optimistic about the future of trade between the US and Europe.

The European Union has made tangible offers to Donald Trump’s administration in an effort to return stability to the global economy, according to the bloc’s commissioner for international partnerships.

Speaking to Bloomberg Television, Jozef Sikela said that he was “confident” that common sense would prevail and that the two sides would be able to find a deal on trade in their mutual interest. He warned that an escalation in the trade conflict could do more harm to the US than the EU.

“We have to bring the stability back,” Sikela said, without elaborating on what the EU had offered. “Tariffs are a bad thing. For business, it is better to build bridges.”

His comments come after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the EU has some “internal matters” to sort out before the bloc can enter into trade negotiations, singling out a tax on digital services levied by some countries. Trump has repeatedly said the EU is taking advantage of the US on trade.

Sikela, who’s portfolio includes countries in the global south, said that it was unfortunate that the US pulled back from international development. He warned it could open the door for countries like China to expand their influence.

“I don’t think this is a good scenario for the democratic world,” Sikela said

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