European washing machines and motorcycles still face US duties of up to 50 per cent. Democrats, who have now won both houses of Congress, could add pressure on Donald Trump to lower them. But the new Congress takes office only after Brussels’ own deadline expires. Kyiv, meanwhile, hopes for more American aid.
“On international affairs, he is still in charge,” French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told BFM and RMC on Wednesday. He called the Democratic victory decisive and said one test of Trump’s response would be whether pressure over petrol prices leads him to scale back US involvement abroad.
Tariff deadline before Congress changes hands
“The respect of the Turnberry deal is of paramount importance,” EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said on Wednesday when asked about the election. He said he remained in regular contact with US officials and was pressing for progress on tariffs on products made with steel.
The EU–US trade deal caps tariffs on most European exports at 15 per cent. Some goods containing steel or aluminium, including certain washing machines and motorcycles, still face duties of up to 50 per cent. If Washington fails to bring those rates into line by the end of December, the EU can suspend tariff concessions it granted to US exporters.
Democrats can use hearings to scrutinise the tariffs and negotiations over agency budgets to seek concessions. Richard Neal, about to become chair of the House committee responsible for trade, singled out “price-hiking tariffs” in his post-election statement. Any attempt to repeal the tariffs over Trump’s veto would still require Republican votes, Reuters reports.
Kyiv sees an opening for more US aid
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was sceptical that the result would prompt a major shift in Trump’s policies. “Even over the last two years, Trump has largely governed by bypassing Congress. Why should that be any different now?” he said at an economic forum in Berlin. He expected changes in budget planning to take time.
If Congress now speaks of strong financial support or military assistance, as Europe is doing and demonstrating today, then that will be something positive that will have an impact on Putin.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she hoped the incoming Congress would continue supporting Ukraine and put more pressure on Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed to Democrats’ stated support for closer ties with Europe. He also spoke about Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with Germany’s ZDF. “If Congress now speaks of strong financial support or military assistance, as Europe is doing and demonstrating today, then that will be something positive that will have an impact on Putin,” he said.
Ukraine laid out its 2027 funding needs at talks in Brussels on Wednesday. Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said partners had agreed on next steps and deadlines for a reconstruction plan. His account of the meeting gave no details of a new US funding pledge.
