The European Union is “ready to negotiate” with the United States after President Trump issued sweeping tariffs last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference Monday.
“This is a major turning point for the United States,” she said. “Nonetheless, we stand ready to negotiate with the United States.”
“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods — as we have successfully done with many other trading partners — because Europe is always ready for a good deal, so we keep it on the table.”
She stressed, however, that the EU is readying countermeasures in response to Trump’s 20 percent tariff on imported goods from the EU. Trump’s 10 percent baseline tariff took effect Saturday, and the individualized tariffs will take effect Wednesday.
Trump previously announced tariffs on aluminum and steel and on foreign car imports.
“We are also prepared to respond through countermeasures and defend our interests,” she added. “And in addition, we will also protect ourselves against indirect effects through trade diversion.”
EU trade ministers met Monday to discuss a response to U.S. tariffs.
Maroš Šefčovič, European commissioner for trade and economic security, echoed a similar sentiment following the meeting.
“We're fully ready to negotiate whenever our US partners are. Meanwhile, our countermeasures work continues,” he wrote on social platform X after the meeting.
