Dutch Finance Minister on US-EU Trade Negotiations, EU Budget, Support for Ukraine

Trade Negotiations & Tariffs - The EU aims to secure a trade deal with the US before August 1st, emphasizing that free trade benefits both parties [1][4] - The EU is prepared to retaliate if a deal isn't reached, highlighting its position as a major trade bloc [4][5] - The Netherlands advocates for free trade and fiscal consolidation instead of tariffs, viewing tariffs as a tax on American consumers that increases inflation [8] - Concerns exist in Europe regarding increased capacity from trade barriers between the US and China, threatening European competitiveness [9] - Trade wars are not in anyone's interest, exemplified by concerns over Chinese product dumping in Europe and potential surplus issues for the US [10] - The Netherlands is against tariffs on semiconductors and emphasizes the importance of free trade for the semiconductor industry [6][7][8] EU Budget & Fiscal Policy - The proposed EU budget of €2 trillion is considered too high and "dead on arrival" by the Netherlands, which advocates for a smaller budget and reprioritization [11][12] - The Netherlands believes the focus should be on spending less rather than increasing taxes, especially corporate taxes [12][13][14] - The Netherlands prioritizes security and innovation within the EU budget [15] Support for Ukraine - The EU needs to continue supporting Ukraine through military, budgetary, and sanction measures against Russia [16] - Europe should pay for weapons to Ukraine [18] Multilateralism & Free Trade - Participants at the G20 meetings are vocal about the importance of free trade and reducing tariffs [20]