The European Union is prepared for both a win and a loss in its trade negotiations with the United States.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on the 3rd that the EU is “ready to reach a principled agreement with the United States on tariff issues.” However, if negotiations fail, the EU will resolutely take retaliatory measures to protect its economy.
On the same day in Aarhus, Denmark, von der Leyen told the media, “Our goal is to reach an agreement before July 9th.” She mentioned that the EU hopes to resolve issues through negotiations but also prepares for the possibility of not reaching a satisfactory agreement. She said, “We will defend European interests when necessary. All countermeasures are under consideration.”
The Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security within the European Commission, Svetlana Vučković, is currently negotiating with US trade representatives in Washington, attempting to reach an agreement.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has once again called for an “agreement that is fast and simple” between the EU and the US, stating it is crucial for key industries such as pharmaceuticals, engineering, and automotive sectors.
Currently, the US imposes a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum products from the EU, a 25% tariff on automobiles, and a 10% base tariff on almost all other goods. US President Donald Trump also threatened to impose a 50% tariff on EU goods if there was no breakthrough in trade negotiations by July 9th. In response, the EU had decided to impose up to 50% tariffs on total imports from the US amounting to 21 billion euros. However, to give time for the trade negotiations, this retaliatory measure was postponed until July 14th.
Trump’s tariff policies have impacted the global economy.