EU Prepares Countermeasures in Response to U.S. Tariffs
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasizes the economic implications of U.S. tariffs and outlines potential responses.
BRUSSELS – The European Union is actively drafting responses to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a 20% tariff on imports from EU member states.
This move has been described by EU leaders as a significant setback for the global economy.
On April 2, 2025, President Trump triggered a historic global trade confrontation by imposing wide-ranging tariffs on numerous countries, including those in Central America and Southeast Asia.
These newly instituted tariffs add to existing duties on steel, aluminum, and automotive imports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her concerns during the EU-Central Asia meeting held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
She highlighted that the tariffs represent a major blow to the world economy and warned of immediate adverse effects on businesses and consumer markets.
"Let’s be clear-eyed about the immense consequences.
The global economy will massively suffer.
Uncertainty will spiral and trigger the rise of further protectionism," von der Leyen stated.
She also noted that both large and small enterprises would face increased costs and disrupted supply chains as a direct result of these tariffs.
In response, the European Union is preparing a series of countermeasures.
While von der Leyen expressed a willingness to collaborate with the U.S. to lower trade barriers, she confirmed that Europe is ready to defend its interests.
She stated, "We are already finalising the first package of countermeasures in response to tariffs on steel, and we are now preparing for further countermeasures to protect our interests and our businesses if negotiations fail."
The EU has already outlined tariffs on U.S. exports worth up to 26 billion euros in retaliation for previous steel and aluminum duties.
The affected U.S. products include items like boats, various alcoholic beverages, and motorbikes.
Data from the United States Census Bureau indicates that the EU was the largest individual market for U.S. goods exports in the previous year, surpassing Canada and Mexico.
Recent EU statistics reveal that in 2024, the U.S. was the top buyer of European goods, importing pharmaceuticals, vehicles, and telecommunications equipment.
Conversely, U.S. records confirm that the EU ranked as the primary supplier of goods to the United States in the same timeframe.
Ursula von der Leyen noted that over the past 80 years, trade between the EU and the United States has resulted in millions of jobs.
She asserted that consumers across both regions have benefited from lowered prices, while businesses have enjoyed expanded opportunities leading to notable economic growth.
Furthermore, von der Leyen recognized the complexities of the global trading system and acknowledged existing deficiencies.
"I agree with President Trump that others are taking unfair advantage of the current rules and I am ready to support any efforts to make the global trading system fit for the realities of the global economy," she remarked.
However, she cautioned against relying solely on tariffs as a solution to trade issues, stressing the importance of negotiation and collaboration over confrontation.
This move has been described by EU leaders as a significant setback for the global economy.
On April 2, 2025, President Trump triggered a historic global trade confrontation by imposing wide-ranging tariffs on numerous countries, including those in Central America and Southeast Asia.
These newly instituted tariffs add to existing duties on steel, aluminum, and automotive imports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her concerns during the EU-Central Asia meeting held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
She highlighted that the tariffs represent a major blow to the world economy and warned of immediate adverse effects on businesses and consumer markets.
"Let’s be clear-eyed about the immense consequences.
The global economy will massively suffer.
Uncertainty will spiral and trigger the rise of further protectionism," von der Leyen stated.
She also noted that both large and small enterprises would face increased costs and disrupted supply chains as a direct result of these tariffs.
In response, the European Union is preparing a series of countermeasures.
While von der Leyen expressed a willingness to collaborate with the U.S. to lower trade barriers, she confirmed that Europe is ready to defend its interests.
She stated, "We are already finalising the first package of countermeasures in response to tariffs on steel, and we are now preparing for further countermeasures to protect our interests and our businesses if negotiations fail."
The EU has already outlined tariffs on U.S. exports worth up to 26 billion euros in retaliation for previous steel and aluminum duties.
The affected U.S. products include items like boats, various alcoholic beverages, and motorbikes.
Data from the United States Census Bureau indicates that the EU was the largest individual market for U.S. goods exports in the previous year, surpassing Canada and Mexico.
Recent EU statistics reveal that in 2024, the U.S. was the top buyer of European goods, importing pharmaceuticals, vehicles, and telecommunications equipment.
Conversely, U.S. records confirm that the EU ranked as the primary supplier of goods to the United States in the same timeframe.
Ursula von der Leyen noted that over the past 80 years, trade between the EU and the United States has resulted in millions of jobs.
She asserted that consumers across both regions have benefited from lowered prices, while businesses have enjoyed expanded opportunities leading to notable economic growth.
Furthermore, von der Leyen recognized the complexities of the global trading system and acknowledged existing deficiencies.
"I agree with President Trump that others are taking unfair advantage of the current rules and I am ready to support any efforts to make the global trading system fit for the realities of the global economy," she remarked.
However, she cautioned against relying solely on tariffs as a solution to trade issues, stressing the importance of negotiation and collaboration over confrontation.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
