President Von der Leyen urged to reject US vehicle standards in trade negotiations

ETSC and a coalition of prominent European organisations has written to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, urging her to reject the mutual recognition of US vehicle safety and environmental standards in any upcoming trade negotiations with the United States. The letter, signed by leaders from various sectors including transport safety, consumer protection, and environmental advocacy, highlights the significant differences between EU and US vehicle standards and warns of the potential consequences of accepting US standards.

The signatories argue that granting equivalence to US vehicle standards would undermine the EU’s single market, compromise automotive safety, and lead to unfair competition. They emphasise that EU vehicles are significantly safer than their US counterparts, particularly since a major update to EU standards that has applied since 2022.  The letter also points out the lack of mandatory safety standards for pedestrian protection in the US.

The coalition stresses that the protection of European citizens from road deaths and serious injuries is non-negotiable.