"With the American duties uncertainty will spread like wildfire and unleash further protectionism. The consequences will be dire for millions of people around the world. Even the most vulnerable countries, which are now subject to some of the highest US tariffs. Millions of citizens will have to deal with rising costs. Medicines will cost more, as will transportation. Inflation will rise. And this will hurt the most vulnerable citizens the most.” With the first light of dawn, came the harsh response of Ursula von der Leyen ai Trump's tariffs, but the President of the European Commission has also kept the door open to negotiations.
In a video message broadcast from Uzbekistan, where the first summit between the EU and Central Asia is taking place, von der Leyen also criticized the US president's management, saying: “There seems to be no order in the disorder. There is no clear path through the complexity and chaos that is being created when all of America’s trading partners are being affected.” He also recalled that over the past eighty years, trade between Europe and the US has created millions of jobs and benefited consumers with lower prices.
US tariffs, the EU's reaction: negotiations or countermeasures?
Despite Washington's punitive measures, the EU leader reaffirmed the the Union's willingness to maintain a dialogue constructive: “I agree with President Trump that others are taking unfair advantage of the current rules, and I stand ready to support any effort to adapt the global trading system to the realities of the global economy. But I also want to be clear: resorting to tariffs as the first and last tool will not solve the problem. That is why, from the beginning, we have always been ready to negotiate with the United States to remove the remaining barriers to transatlantic trade. At the same time, we stand ready to respond.”
The President of the Commission also anticipated some measures already adopted by Brusselssuch us new tariffs on steel and aluminum and the limit on the quantity of steel imported into Europe without duties, and those on goods included in the list drawn up by the Union in 2020.
However, the first move is not enough: von der Leyen has prepared other measures that will also affect the sector services, where the US has a trade surplus of $109 billion a year. The assumption is that the new measures will focus on Big Tech (Amazon, Google, X, Microsoft), but also on restrictions for US companies di invest since European market andcopyright imitations.
In parallel, EU sources have confirmed that the first countermeasures against the US tariffs, announced on March 12, will be adopted after the vote scheduled for April 9, through a special procedure at EU level. first counter duties they will enter effective April 15, while a second series of measures is expected for May 15th.
Von der Leyen: “It is not too late to resolve the crisis through negotiations”
In her speech, von der Leyen highlighted a key point: the unity of the European Union. “I know many of you feel let down by our oldest ally. We need to brace ourselves for the impact this will inevitably have. Europe has everything it needs to weather the storm. We are in this together. If you hit one of us, you hit us all. So we will stand together and defend each other. Our unity is our strength. Europe has the largest single market in the world, 450 million consumers. This is our safe haven in tumultuous times and Europe will stand with those directly affected.”
Von der Leyen finally concluded with a message of hope, with the invitation to resolve the crisis through negotiations: "It is not too late to address concerns. We will work to reduce barriers, not to increase them".
US Tariffs: International Responses Firm, But With Different Nuances
International responses to the new tariffs imposed by the United States were immediate, although not all with the same intensity. China condemned Trump's behavior, calling it an example of "one-sided bullying," and promised to "resolutely take countermeasures" to protect its interests.Australia, through Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, defined the American tariffs as "completely unjustified" and contrary to the principles of the historic bilateral partnership, but without threatening retaliation. Kingdom Unito reaffirmed its ties with the United States, calling it its “closest ally.” Japan branded the move “extremely regrettable,” while the Canada, through Prime Minister Mark Carney, warned that these measures will radically change global trade.
In Italy, Giorgia Meloni, after waiting an hour after Trump's speech, called the American decision "wrong" and stressed that Italy will do everything possible to avoid a trade war that would weaken the West in favor of other global players. The President of the Republic was more severe, Sergio Mattarella, who condemned Trump's move as a "profound mistake", urging Europe to respond "in a compact, calm and determined manner", but with a careful and considered assessment of the impact that the tariffs will have on the global economy.
Last updated: Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 14:45 PM
