EU Warns US: We Are Ready to Counter Trump’s Liberation Day Tariffs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The European Union warned it holds powerful trade tools ahead of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe is ready to retaliate if provoked. The bloc plans to target U.S. goods worth $28 billion in response to steel and aluminum duties.
EU Trade Retaliation Plan: Quick Looks
- Trump to announce new tariffs on April 2, calling it “Liberation Day.”
- EU Commission says it “holds a lot of cards” in global trade power.
- Ursula von der Leyen warns that Europe is prepared to retaliate if necessary.
- EU plans to impose $28 billion in duties on U.S. goods by mid-April.
- Targeted items include steel, aluminum, textiles, appliances, and farm goods.
- EU stresses it didn’t start the trade conflict but is ready for firm countermeasures.
- Concerns remain over how Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” will be implemented.
- Von der Leyen urges the U.S. to pursue a constructive solution.
EU Warns US: We Are Ready to Counter Trump’s Liberation Day Tariffs
Deep Look
On the eve of President Donald Trump’s anticipated announcement of sweeping import tariffs, the European Union has issued a firm warning that it is fully prepared to respond with retaliatory trade measures. As the United States prepares to mark April 2 as “Liberation Day”, a move Trump says will begin to free the country from dependence on foreign products, Europe is making it clear it won’t back down from a potential trade conflict.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, addressed EU lawmakers on Tuesday with a pointed message: the EU is not looking for a confrontation, but it has the tools—and the political will—to respond if provoked.
“Europe has not started this confrontation. We do not necessarily want to retaliate, but if it is necessary, we have a strong plan to retaliate and we will use it,” von der Leyen said during a European Parliament session in Strasbourg, France.
The remarks came just one day before Trump is expected to unveil a tariff package focused on implementing “reciprocal tariffs”, which would match duties other countries impose on U.S. exports. However, there remains uncertainty around how those tariffs will be applied, raising concerns both in the U.S. and abroad.
Von der Leyen emphasized that Europe’s strength in trade lies not only in its economic size and influence in technology and commerce, but also in its readiness to act decisively if negotiations break down.
“Europe holds a lot of cards, from trade to technology to the size of our market. But this strength is also built on our readiness to take firm countermeasures if necessary. All instruments are on the table,” she stated.
The European Commission, which negotiates trade agreements and manages disputes on behalf of the 27 EU member nations, has already outlined a response. If Trump follows through on additional tariffs, particularly on steel and aluminum, the EU plans to enact retaliatory duties on $28 billion worth of U.S. goods as early as mid-April.
These duties would not only target industrial sectors like steel and aluminum, but also consumer goods such as textiles, household appliances, and agricultural products. The message from Brussels is clear: the EU intends to defend its economic interests with a measured yet forceful approach.
However, Von der Leyen also struck a tone of disappointment, lamenting the deterioration of what has long been the world’s most robust trading relationship.
“So many Europeans feel utterly disheartened by the announcement from the United States. This is the largest and most prosperous trade relationship worldwide. We would all be better off if we could find a constructive solution,” she told lawmakers.
The uncertainty surrounding Trump’s plan and its eventual implementation has left European officials cautious but on alert. While the EU awaits specific details about the structure and scope of the tariffs, it’s signaling that it will not hesitate to act in defense of its industries if the new U.S. measures are deemed unfair or damaging.
With Trump’s “Liberation Day” set to reshape global trade dynamics, both Washington and Brussels are entering a critical phase. Whether this moment evolves into escalation or negotiation remains to be seen, but the EU has made it clear: it will not sit idly by.
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