EU's Ursula von der Leyen on Tariffs: Ready to Negotiate or Counter

EU's Stance on Tariffs

• 🇪🇺 Ursula von der Leyen stated that using tariffs as the primary tool will not resolve trade issues.
• 💡 The European Commission has consistently been prepared to negotiate with the United States to eliminate trade barriers.

Preparing Countermeasures

• 🛡️ The EU is finalizing a package of countermeasures in response to US tariffs on steel.
• ⚖️ Further countermeasures are being prepared to protect European interests and businesses if negotiations fail.
• 📈 The EU will monitor the indirect effects of these tariffs and will not absorb global overcapacity or accept dumping.

Path Forward: Negotiation Over Confrontation

• 🤝 The EU advocates for an alternative path of negotiation to address concerns, emphasizing it's not too late.
• 💬 The EU's Trade Commissioner is actively engaged with US counterparts to reduce barriers, not raise them.
• 🗣️ Von der Leyen urged a shift from confrontation to negotiation to resolve trade disputes.