Brussels has a “solid plan to retaliate” against the reciprocal prices of Trump, said Ursula von der Leyen while calling for a “negotiated solution”.
The European Union holds “many cards” which can be exploited to negotiate, dissuade and, if necessary, “repel” against Donald Trump's plan to impose radical reciprocal prices on all American trade partners, said Ursula von der Leyen on the eve of what the American president nicknamed the “Liberation Day”.
Trump, whose unprecedented initiative has antagonized the longtime allies, shaken stock markets And raised the spectrum of the recession, said that his prices would target “all countries” as a starting point and “let's see what's going on”.
For the block, the reciprocal prices will come to the heels of 25% on steel, aluminum and car exports. The European Commission presented countermeasures to retaliate against them, but has delayed their introduction until mid-April.
With a new larger raft of Trump prices now imminent, the commission hardens its tone and warns that its response will not have red lines.
“Let me be clear: Europe has not started this confrontation. We think it's bad,” said Von Der Leyen on Tuesday, speaking before the European Parliament.
“We have everything we need to protect our people and our prosperity. We have the largest market in the world. We have the strength to negotiate. We have the power to repel. And the inhabitants of Europe should know: together, we will always promote and defend our interests and our values. And we will always defend Europe.”
The President of the Commission said that prices would increase everyday consumer prices, destroy jobs, create a “bureaucratic monster” at customs and would be a “nightmare” for American companies that sell their products to Europe. She also predicted that the tasks will be contrary to Trump's highly praised agenda to reindustrialize America.
“This confrontation is not interested in anyone,” she said.
Throughout his speech, Von der Leyen insisted that the objective of the Commission would be a “negotiated solution” to prevent what promises to be quickly as a total trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic, which analysts expect to have disastrous economic consequences at an era of increased global uncertainty.
“We will discuss these negotiations from a position of strength. Europe has a lot of cards: from trade to technology to the size of our market,” said Von Der Leyen.
However, she added, if these talks do not provide a compromise, Brussels will not hesitate to take “firm countermeasures”, with all the options on the table.
Commission officials have already reported The potential response could go beyond the traditional tit-range on goods and include services, which have so far remained intact. In 2023The EU recorded a surplus of goods with the United States worth 156.6 billion euros, but a deficit of services worth 108.6 billion euros.
“We would all be better if we could find a constructive solution,” said Von Der Leyen in Strasbourg in Strasbourg.
“At the same time, it must also be clear: Europe has not started this confrontation. We do not necessarily want to retaliate, but we have a solid plan to retaliate if necessary.”
As trade tensions increase, Von Der Leyen has intensified his commitment with the leaders of the whole block to ensure a unified front against the White House.
ADVERTISEMENTWhile the heads of state and the government agree that Trump prices cannot remain unanswered, they do not agree on which the products should be targeted in reaction, fearing that countermeasures would harm the key industries of their national economies.
