European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Tuesday that while she hopes to avoid a trade war, Brussels is prepared to respond to any tariffs imposed by Washington. US President Donald Trump plans to announce import levies against multiple countries, aiming to address trade imbalances.
Von der Leyen emphasized the importance of negotiation, stating that Europe is not looking to retaliate but will do so if necessary. She added that Europe will respond with unity and determination, and assess Trump’s tariffs carefully.
Trump claims that the world’s largest economy has been taken advantage of by other countries. While he stated that he will be “very kind” when revealing details of the tariffs, markets have been uncertain and concerned about potential recession.
The US president’s aggressive tariff strategy has raised fears of a global trade war and potential retaliation from trading partners such as China, Canada, and the EU. The EU has already faced multiple US tariff hits, including a 25% auto import levy starting Thursday and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum from around the globe. Brussels has pledged countermeasures to these tariffs starting mid-April.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/eu-prepares-strong-plan-to-hit-back-at-trump-tariffs/a-72103742?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
