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Von der Leyen offers Trump zero-for-zero tariff deal on all industrial goods
2025-04-07 16:44:08 / BOTA
Trade tensions between the European Union and the United States have reached a peak, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that Europe is "always ready for a good deal," but also prepared to retaliate if the US implements new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump.
In a statement on Monday afternoon, von der Leyen said Brussels had offered Washington a "zero-for-zero" deal on all industrial goods, an approach the EU has successfully pursued with other partners.
But she warned that if negotiations fail, the EU will use all means to protect its interests.
"We have kept this offer on the table, but we are also prepared to respond through countermeasures," von der Leyen said, adding that the Commission is ready to use a new anti-coercion instrument, adopted in 2023.
Trump has threatened a blanket 20% tariff on all imports from the EU, which will take effect on April 9. Meanwhile, steel, aluminum and cars will be hit with a separate 25% tariff.
The measure is expected to affect over 380 billion euros of European products, while sectors such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and energy are excluded.
"President Trump's sweeping tariffs are a turning point for the US and will come at a huge cost to American consumers and businesses," von der Leyen said, calling this a serious threat to the global economy.
Brussels is also concerned about indirect impacts, fearing that prohibitive tariffs against Asian countries – which range as high as 49% for Cambodia and 54% for China – will force these exporting economies to redirect goods to European markets, creating new pressures on the EU.
To this end, the European Commission will set up an “Import Surveillance Task Force” to closely monitor sudden increases in imports and prevent trade diversion that could harm European industry.
"We will act if we see that a particular product or sector experiences unexpected growth due to these global developments," the Commission president concluded.
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