EU ‘prepared to respond’ to tariffs, open to talks

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed regret over Trump’s tariffs, stating the bloc is “prepared to respond” despite the open door for negotiations.
• The US announced a baseline tariff of 10% on all goods entering the US, with some countries and entities facing higher tariffs.
• The EU is preparing for further countermeasures to protect its interests and businesses if negotiations fail.
• The EU is also monitoring for indirect impacts on Trump’s announcement, such as dumping of cheap goods by third countries.
• Von der Leyen offered an off-ramp, stating that reaching for tariffs as the first and last tool will not fix the global economy.
• The EU is considering removing bureaucratic and regulatory challenges to trade within its borders as part of the strategy to counter Trump’s moves.