European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump as a serious blow to businesses and consumers across the globe. Von der Leyen made it clear that Europe is prepared to respond robustly, defending its interests and values while remaining open to cooperation and negotiations.
I"Europe is ready to respond. We will always defend our interests and values. At the same time, we are ready for cooperation and a shift from confrontation to negotiations," she voiced.
Von der Leyen added that she agreed with Trump’s position that certain players in the global trade system are taking "unfair advantage," but emphasized that tariffs would not be the solution to fixing the flaws in the system.
Von der Leyen also confirmed that the European Union is finalizing its response to the steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the U.S. earlier this year. She warned that if negotiations fail, Europe will consider additional countermeasures to protect its businesses and interests.
On March 12, 2025, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on $28bn worth of steel and aluminum imports from the European Union. Von der Leyen immediately announced that the EU would impose "strong but proportionate" countermeasures, valued at $26bn.
On April 2, Trump announced the imposition of "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of countries. The new tariff rate for the European Union will be set at 20% and will take effect on April 9.
Other countries, including Uzbekistan, are also affected by these tariffs. Uzbekistan will face a 10% tariff, while several other nations will see even higher rates. For instance, China faces a 34% tariff, Switzerland 31%, Israel 17%, and Kazakhstan 27%.
Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos will experience the highest tariffs, with rates of 46%, 495, and 48%. The U.S. president has even applied tariffs to goods from the uninhabited Heard and McDonald Islands, known for housing thousands of penguins.
Moreover, Trump signed an executive order imposing 25% tariffs on imports of cars, trucks, and their parts, further escalating trade tensions globally.
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