Von der Leyen: “Impose 30% tariffs on the EU would cause disruption” | International | EUROtoday
Just an hour has taken the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to answer the letter of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, asserting 30% tariffs on European imports. “Imposing 30% tariffs on EU exports would cause a disruption in supply chains, companies, consumers and patients and two sides of the Atlantic,” he stated in his first response, by which he declares himself prepared to barter till August 1.
Von der Leyen continues to be connected to the script that was marked when Trump opened the industrial struggle: negotiating till the exhaustion whereas making ready a solution in case there isn’t a pact. Both concepts are current of their assertion, however the emphasis given to those concepts has modified. “We will take all the necessary measures to safeguard the interests of the EU, including the adoption of countermeasures provided if necessary,” says the German.
A 30% tariff on EU exports would damage companies, customers and sufferers on each side of the Atlantic.
We will proceed working in direction of an settlement by August 1.
At the identical time, we’re able to safeguard EU pursuits on the idea of proportionate countermeasures.
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 12, 2025
The US administration had warned the fee earlier than Trump printed his letter within the Truth Social Network, in response to sources from the Union Executive itself. In truth, the letter is dated Friday, July 11 though it has been launched this Saturday.
It highlights a gaggle that seems within the response of von der Leyen that has hardly ever appeared in different communications, “the patients.” The reference is a wink to the pharmaceutical sector and international locations akin to Ireland, which export to the United States a big quantity of medicines. On that sector, as well as, Washington has opened an investigation and Trump has famous that it considers imposing tariffs of 200%.
Von der Leyen’s response has even a paragraph that seeks to disassemble the arguments Trump makes use of in his letter. He talks that the EU is a closed market. The president of the Commission factors out that “few economies on the earth equal the extent of openness and accession to honest practices of commerce [internacional]”Of the Union.” Consequently, the EU has prioritized a negotiation with the United States, reflecting our involvement with dialogue, stability and a constructive transatlantic affiliation. ”
https://elpais.com/internacional/2025-07-12/von-der-leyen-imponer-aranceles-del-30-a-la-ue-provocaria-una-disrupcion.html