In a dramatic shift in tone, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union is ready to negotiate with the United States over newly imposed trade tariffs, backing away from earlier threats of reciprocal measures.
The announcement came after an emergency meeting with representatives from the European steel and metals industries, which took place in a tense atmosphere. The industry leaders strongly urged the Commission to avoid retaliation, emphasizing that additional tariffs would further escalate an already fragile situation and risk severing access to the U.S. market.
Representatives from major industry associations directly challenged Brussels’ bureaucrats during the meeting, stating: “Retaliatory tariffs will worsen an already strained situation. It should not happen. The U.S. will hit us with more duties, and we’ll lose access to their market.
“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,” Von der Leyen told a press conference.
The European Commission has scheduled a series of sector-specific meetings this week with representatives from the automotive, steel, and pharmaceutical industries to evaluate the impact of U.S. tariffs and explore alternative export strategies and support mechanisms.
The tension between the European Union and the United States over trade is not new. Disagreements have periodically surfaced over issues such as tariffs on steel and aluminum, digital taxation, and automobile imports. The recent measures announced by President Trump are part of a broader “America First” agenda aiming to correct perceived trade imbalances.
In previous years, similar moves have sparked retaliatory measures and WTO disputes. However, with global supply chains still recovering from recent disruptions and geopolitical risks rising, both sides are now showing greater willingness to pursue dialogue over confrontation to avoid destabilizing transatlantic trade.
