Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the European Union favors a negotiated trade solution with the United States. She also announced that the EU will maintain its suspension of countermeasures against US tariffs until early August.
Yesterday, US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 30% tariff on imports from the EU and Mexico beginning August 1, following weeks of unsuccessful negotiations with key US trading partners on a comprehensive trade agreement.
“The (anti-coercion) instrument is created for extraordinary situations, we are not there yet,”
Ms von der Leyen stated, a reference to a tool enabling the EU to exceed traditional tariffs on goods and also impose trade restrictions on services.
How is the EU responding to trump’s tariff threat?
A day earlier, in response to the tariff announcement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Saturday that the EU is prepared to take necessary measures to defend its interests if the U.S. implements a 30% tariff on European goods beginning August 1.
Von der Leyen stated that the bloc remains prepared “to continue working towards an agreement by Aug 1.”
A 30% tariff on EU exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 12, 2025
We will continue working towards an agreement by August 1.
At the same time, we are ready to safeguard EU interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures.
“Few economies in the world match the European Union’s level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices,”
she continued.
“We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.”
What are the main points in Trump’s tariff letter?
In a further escalation of the trade war that has upset U.S. allies and unsettled investors, Trump announced new tariffs in separate letters addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, which were posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.
The EU aims to establish a comprehensive trade deal with the U.S. for its 27-member bloc. Trump’s letter to the EU demanded that Europe abandon its own tariffs.
“The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit,”
he wrote.
