EU Trade Chief Outlines “Partial Suspension” of Israel Privileges

European Commission Trade Representative Maroš Šefčovič has carefully detailed the EU’s plan for Israel, emphasizing that it is a “partial suspension” of trade privileges, not a full-blown boycott. This framing is a strategic attempt to present the measure as proportionate and legally sound, thereby increasing its chances of winning approval from member states.
Šefčovič explained that the proposal is a direct result of the “increasingly urgent situation” in Gaza. He provided specific figures, noting that the tariffs, if implemented, would amount to approximately €230 million and would apply to a carefully selected 37% of Israeli imports.
By calling it a “partial suspension,” the EU is trying to avoid accusations of seeking to cripple the Israeli economy. The message is that the core of the €15.9 billion trade relationship remains intact, but privileges can and will be revoked in response to actions the EU considers to be violations of its agreements.
This approach is also rooted in the legal advice the Commission received, which identified a breach of the human rights component of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The proposed remedy—suspending the benefits of that agreement for certain goods—is thus presented as a direct and logical consequence of that breach.
Despite this cautious language, the impact of the measures would be significant, and Israel has not been swayed by the EU’s careful terminology. It views any suspension of trade privileges as a hostile act. The success of Šefčovič’s framing will now be tested in the capitals of the 27 EU member states.