The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, speaks during a debate on the conclusions of the European Council on March 20, 2025, as part of a plenary session at the European Parliament, on April 1, 2025, in Strasbourg, in eastern France. (Credit: Frederick Florin/AFP)
The EU has a 'solid plan' to respond, if needed, to the new U.S. tariffs, said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Tuesday. 'We do not necessarily want to take retaliatory measures,' she told the European Parliament in Strasbourg. 'But we have a solid plan to do so, if necessary,' meaning if Donald Trump follows through with his threats on Wednesday, said the head of the European Commission.
The whole world is waiting to know precisely what Trump will decide, as he threatens to impose strictly 'reciprocal' tariffs across the board.
If implemented, this measure would see the U.S. taxing all imported goods in the same manner as the country-of-origin taxes U.S. products. 'I hear the Americans when they say that others have taken advantage of the rules,' Ursula von der Leyen said to European deputies. 'I agree. We too suffer from it.' 'But generalized tariffs only worsen the situation, they do not improve it,' she argued. 'Tariffs are taxes that will be paid by the citizens,' the Commission President emphasized.
From Strasbourg, Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that Europe was 'not the source of this confrontation' with the United States. But the Old Continent will present a 'unified' response to these new measures, she promised, ensuring she had discussed 'the next steps' with European leaders.
