The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has a joint press conference with Antonio Costa at the end of the European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, March 20, 2025.
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The European Union is preparing new countermeasures against American prices in the event of negotiations’ failure, according to the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
President Donald Trump had 20% of the rates on the block on Wednesday.
Speaking on a live program, the president of the EC said that Trump’s decision was a “major blow” for the world economy.
“There does not seem to be an order in trouble, no clear path to complexity and chaos that are created like all American trade partners are affected,” said Von Der Leyen.
“Spiral uncertainty and will trigger the rise of additional protectionism (and) the consequences will be disastrous for millions of people around the world, also for the most vulnerable countries, which are now subject to some of the highest American prices.”
Von der Leyen has called for negotiations, saying that the block will work to reduce obstacles, and not to raise them.
The President of the EC said that she agreed with Trump that some countries were benefiting from an unjust advantage of current rules in global trade and that the EU was ready to support efforts to make the global trade system adapted to the realities of the global economy “.
However, she also warned the United States to reach prices because your first and last tool will not repair it. “”
The comments of Von Der Leyen intervene after the announcement of reprisals after the United States has imposed prices Last month in order to protect European workers and consumers. At the time, the EU indicated that it would introduce counter-triggers out of 26 billion euros ($ 28 billion) of American goods.
The functions previously suspended – which were at least partially in place during Trump’s first term as president – should be reintroduced alongside a series of additional tasks on other goods.
Semi-finished and finished products in industrial steel and aluminum and aluminum, other derivative commercial products, such as machine parts and knitting needles, have been fixed. A range of other products such as bourbon, agricultural products, leather items, household appliances and more were also on the EU list.
After a postponement, these prices should come into force in mid-April.