The European Union has announced plans to implement countermeasures in response to new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, while remaining open to negotiations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking on Thursday during a summit with Central Asian leaders in Uzbekistan, described Trump’s decision as a “major blow to businesses and consumers worldwide.” She emphasized that Europe was prepared to protect its economic interests.
“These tariffs will lead to higher grocery, medication, and transportation costs for millions, driving inflation and disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable,” von der Leyen warned.
She revealed that the EU was finalizing its first set of retaliatory measures and preparing additional steps should negotiations with the U.S. fail. Discussions have also been initiated with industries most affected by the tariffs, particularly in the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors.
Trump announced on Wednesday a blanket 10% tariff on most U.S. imports, with additional penalties for countries with significant trade surpluses. The new tariffs on EU imports are set at 20%.
Von der Leyen reassured EU citizens that the bloc had the necessary resilience to navigate the economic challenges posed by the U.S. trade policy shift.
