The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed on Monday a zero-tariff agreement on industrial goods with the United States. In a statement, von der Leyen confirmed the European Commission’s readiness to enter into negotiations with the U.S.
“We are ready to negotiate with the U.S. In fact, we have proposed zero tariffs for industrial goods as we do with many other trade partners,” stated the European Commission President, as noted in the communication.
Von der Leyen elaborated further, expressing that “Europe is always ready for a good deal,” while also affirming that Brussels stands prepared to retaliate if necessary:
“We are also prepared to respond with countermeasures and defend our interests,” she added.
She mentioned the establishment of a task force to monitor imports: “We will work with industry to ensure we have the necessary evidence base for our policy measures. We will maintain close contact to work together and minimize effect on both sides.”
Portugal Asserts Unity to Avoid Escalating Tensions with the U.S.
The Portuguese government highlighted today the unity within the European Union (EU) to “not escalate further” the commercial tensions with the United States, following the introduction of new American tariffs, while also guaranteeing the EU’s “firm stance” in transatlantic negotiations.
“It was a very productive meeting, a day of great cohesion and unity among member states. There was a strong sense of not escalating this situation further, which was not created by the European Union, and therefore, we need to exercise strategic patience in negotiations to prevent further escalation of the conflict,” stated João Rui Ferreira, Secretary of State for Economy, after the EU Trade Ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.
According to Ferreira, the meeting, which took place on a day when European stock markets opened with significant drops due to transatlantic trade tensions, reaffirmed “strong cohesion among all EU member states, and confidence in the Commission’s transparent and clear approach when engaging with member states, keeping them fully informed about the negotiation process, […] which is complex and challenging.”
Ferreira emphasized that the EU also has a “strong concern” to maintain “firmness in negotiations” with the United States, being prepared “for possible measures that need to be taken” to ensure that the EU’s response “does not harm European economies and countries in particular.”
The EU Trade Ministers met today in Luxembourg to discuss the current trade tensions on a day when major European stock exchanges opened as they closed the previous week, with significant declines due to the fear of repercussions from tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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