WEBVTT

00:01.833 --> 00:03.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
AMNA NAWAZ: For more on
the U.S. trade war with
Europe, we turn now to Jovita

00:03.666 --> 00:07.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
Neliupsiene, the European
Union's ambassador
to the United States.

00:07.333 --> 00:10.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
Madam Ambassador, welcome
back to the "News Hour."
Thanks for joining us.

00:10.300 --> 00:12.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE, European
Union Ambassador to the
United States: Well,
thank you for having me.

00:12.200 --> 00:15.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
AMNA NAWAZ: So, as we
reported, these tariffs
largely target products made

00:15.466 --> 00:20.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
in Republican states, products
from Kansas and Nebraska,
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana.

00:22.233 --> 00:26.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
Is it your hope here
that Republican lawmakers
will speak up and apply

00:26.666 --> 00:29.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
pressure to President Trump
to roll back the tariffs,

00:29.133 --> 00:34.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
or do you hope that President
Trump starts to lose support
from his base in these states?

00:36.266 --> 00:38.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: Well, first
of all, let's start from the
beginning. We actually deeply

00:38.766 --> 00:43.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
regret that the tariffs
are introduced for the E.U.
products on steel and aluminum.

00:45.966 --> 00:50.933 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
We never saw the tariffs
as really the measure to
foster trade, or -- and
we see it actually as

00:55.433 --> 01:00.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
a harm for the transatlantic
trade relations. But we
have to react, and our
reaction will be prompt,

01:07.000 --> 01:12.000 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
and we will reinstitute the
tariffs we already had and
discussed back in 2018 and 2020.

01:19.766 --> 01:22.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
AMNA NAWAZ: And is it your
hope here that Republican
lawmakers will see that

01:22.266 --> 01:26.966 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
and want to save their
states and start to apply
pressure? Have you been
in touch with any of them?

01:26.966 --> 01:31.966 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: Well,
we really had a lot of
conversations with senators
and congressmen here

01:34.000 --> 01:38.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
in D.C. trying to send one
single message that tariffs
are really not for the best

01:42.666 --> 01:47.633 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
of the transatlantic
relations, so we hope
that everyone can send a
message, the same message.

01:49.966 --> 01:54.200 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
AMNA NAWAZ: We did see
how quickly the terms
-- even between the U.S.
and Ontario, for example,

01:56.633 --> 01:59.333 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
there was an escalation
there, then it was a quick
de-escalation. You saw
Ontario slap a surcharge on

02:01.666 --> 02:04.466 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
electricity exports; 24
hours later after a call
between the premier there
and the U.S. commerce

02:06.700 --> 02:10.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
secretary, Ontario rolled
back that surcharge, and
now the two are meeting
in Washington tomorrow.

02:11.966 --> 02:15.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
What would it take for the
E.U. to roll back your tariffs?

02:15.766 --> 02:19.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: We
stand ready for talks
and for the negotiations.

02:19.900 --> 02:24.900 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
We repeatedly expressed
our interest in talking.
And if you -- you probably
noticed that we not

02:27.166 --> 02:31.633 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
only published our intended
reciprocal measures.
We as well informed
public that they will be

02:34.266 --> 02:39.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
they come into effect at the
1st of April, so there is enough
time for the conversations.

02:41.266 --> 02:43.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
AMNA NAWAZ: And is it your
hope that something happens

02:43.133 --> 02:46.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
before April 1 that means
you don't have to put
the tariffs into place?

02:46.600 --> 02:51.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: Well, we
always have a hope for their
for the really constructive,

02:53.366 --> 02:56.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
constructive talks,
because none of us will
benefit from the tariffs,

02:58.300 --> 03:02.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
because, one, it's always -- it
raise the cost for the business.

03:02.700 --> 03:07.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
It may inflict inflation
in the U.S. It weakens
in general supply chains,

03:09.866 --> 03:14.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
which are the supply chains of
transatlantic partners and in
general supply chains of allies.

03:18.000 --> 03:23.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
So we don't see how it
could be beneficial for
both sides of Atlantic.

03:25.100 --> 03:27.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
AMNA NAWAZ: Madam Ambassador,
as you know, when the E.U.
trade commissioner was here in

03:27.466 --> 03:31.133 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
Washington to meet with
the commerce secretary,
Howard Lutnick, last month,
he was trying to head

03:31.133 --> 03:36.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
off these tariffs. He came
out of that meeting and
he said -- quote -- "The
E.U. is not the problem."

03:37.366 --> 03:39.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Is Commerce Secretary
Lutnick someone you can

03:39.633 --> 03:43.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
work with on this? And
if not who in the White
House can you work with.

03:43.700 --> 03:47.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: Well, of
course, commerce -- Secretary

03:47.000 --> 03:52.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
of Commerce Lutnick is
really our prime contact,
as well as USTR Greer.

03:55.466 --> 03:59.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
We are ready to talk whoever
is willing to talk and make an

03:59.900 --> 04:03.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
action that those tariffs
would be -- revert.

04:03.500 --> 04:04.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
AMNA NAWAZ: You say you're
ready to talk. Is it fair

04:04.900 --> 04:08.166 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
to say those conversations
are already under way?

04:08.166 --> 04:12.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: Well,
we always say here have to
have them. And we already
-- as you mentioned,

04:12.533 --> 04:17.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
we already had a very
in-depth conversation
with Secretary Lutnick,

04:17.433 --> 04:19.700 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
and we are ready
to continue them.

04:19.700 --> 04:23.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
AMNA NAWAZ: Let me ask you
about the U.S. tariffs on
steel, because the E.U. does

04:23.866 --> 04:28.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
stand to lose millions of
tons in steel exports under
those tariffs. As you know,

04:28.066 --> 04:33.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
the U.S. is the second biggest
export market for E.U. steel.
We know European markets were

04:35.200 --> 04:38.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
already deeply impacted by the
energy crisis that was spurred
by Russia's war in Ukraine.

04:40.700 --> 04:43.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
What has been and what
could be the impact of
those tariffs not just on

04:43.433 --> 04:46.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
the E.U. steel industry,
but on European economies?

04:46.533 --> 04:50.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: As
the E.U., we are not the
major trading partner in

04:50.700 --> 04:55.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
steel and aluminum
for U.S. So we don't
constitute a problem since

04:57.200 --> 05:00.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
2018 that our exports of steel
and aluminum actually decreased.

05:02.666 --> 05:07.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
I really do believe that
the impact for economies
is always there, because we

05:10.633 --> 05:15.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
not only kind of -- it not
only impacts the certain
sector which get tariffs on,

05:17.900 --> 05:22.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
but as well there are
the services around that.
It contributes to the

05:24.366 --> 05:29.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
weakening of the trade links and
the trust of the supply chains.

05:31.166 --> 05:35.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
AMNA NAWAZ: Madam ambassador,
beyond commodities, the
E.U. bought an estimated

05:35.233 --> 05:40.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
$61 billion of military
equipment from the U.S.
between 2022 and 2024.

05:42.366 --> 05:45.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
And, as you know, after the U.S.
cut off arms and intelligence
support to Ukraine, there were

05:45.433 --> 05:50.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
a number of European leaders
who were reportedly very worried
that the U.S. could do the same

05:50.100 --> 05:55.100 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70%
to them. Will the E.U.
continue to buy military
equipment from the U.S.?
Do you see that changing?

05:57.600 --> 06:00.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: Well, so
far as we see from the reports,

06:00.533 --> 06:05.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
we have no evidence that
the U.S. would be cutting
some kind of the sales or

06:07.566 --> 06:12.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
productions for the European
countries. And we very much
rely on the supplies from U.S.,

06:16.833 --> 06:21.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
because a lot of NATO
capabilities are actually
built on U.S. platforms.

06:21.800 --> 06:24.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
AMNA NAWAZ: But is there a
concern about the reliance
on America? I mean,

06:24.900 --> 06:28.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80%
is the U.S. still considered
a reliable partner
to you on this front?

06:28.400 --> 06:33.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: We
spend almost 60 percent
of our defense budgets in

06:35.233 --> 06:39.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
acquiring capabilities,
ammunition and different
defense-related products from

06:40.366 --> 06:43.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
U.S. I really strongly
believe it will remain so.

06:43.366 --> 06:46.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
AMNA NAWAZ: That is the European
Union's ambassador to the United

06:46.033 --> 06:48.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
States, Jovita Neliupsiene,
joining us tonight.

06:48.900 --> 06:52.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
Madam Ambassador, thank
you so much for your time.
Good to speak with you.

06:52.400 --> 06:53.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
JOVITA NELIUPSIENE: Thank you.