— We are developing retaliatory measures,” said Ursula von der Leyen, explaining that for the first time they may include Union anti-force instrumentwhich possibly affects the export of services. — There is simply a wide scope of countermeasures [...] In case the negotiations are not satisfactory.
She said that this could include customs duties on the exchange of services between the US and the EU, stressing that The exact measures will depend on the result of the talks with Washington.: — An example is the imposition of a charge on advertising gross for digital services.
This measurement would be a tariff applied throughout the single market. This differs from taxes on digital sales, which are imposed individually by associate States. Von der Leyen, head of EU executive authority, said Trump's trade war sparked a "point of full break in global trade".
— This is no uncertainty a turning point in relations with the United States," she said. - We'll never go back to status quo.
— There are no winners, There are only losers — continued, referring to the stock and bond marketplace turmoil. “Today we see the cost of chaos [...]. The costs of uncertainty we are experiencing present will be high.
"We want to negociate a solution that is best for all of us"
citing the request to negociate with Washington, On Thursday, the Commission stopped the planned retaliation measuresagainst American duties on steel and aluminum, which were imposed last month. These measures would hit imports from the US worth around EUR 21 billion (about PLN 90 billion), including poultry, orange juice and yachts.
Von der Leyen, who oversees trade policy on behalf of the 27 EU associate States, said The Commission had previously tried to negociate with the US, but was told to wait until Trump was announced on 2 April, which imposed a 20% "reciprocal" customs tariff on the EU.
Dati Bendo / Financial TimesUrsula von der Leyen during an interview with the editor of the “Financial Times” Roula Khalaf and head of the Brussels editorial board Henry Foy
Publicly proposed a zero-for-nothing tariff agreement for industrial goods, but did not meet with interest in Washington. The officials there complain about alleged non-tariff barriers to EU trade, specified as VAT and product standards.
Von der Leyen said open to discussion on harmonising EU and US standardsBut she said that it would most likely bring limited results.
— I think it is absolutely worth looking at where we can adapt our standards and standards to facilitate our business. So I'm open to it. “She said. “However, we should not rise expectations besides much due to the fact that [...] there are frequently different standards due to the fact that there are differences in the way of life and culture.
No search "untouchable" EU rules on digital content and marketplace powerwhich Trump officials perceive as a taxation on American large Tech companies. The EU will besides not negociate on VAT, which it believes is equivalent to the U.S. sales tax: "This is not in the negotiating packages due to the fact that these are our sovereign decisions.
If the negotiations fail, EU automatically reactivates retaliation measures planned in consequence to US duties on steel and aluminium. In addition, von der Leyen stated that further remedies to Trump's alleged common duties could be directed at a immense surplus of US services from the EU. The president of the United States only counts goods in his commercial data, excluding services exported to the remainder of the world.
— Services companies do good business in this market. And the vast majority of services, 80% of services, come from the US. So erstwhile again, we want to negociate a solution that will be best for all of us," she said.
On this 1 issue the US and the EU agree
In addition to the possible focus on trade in services, von der Leyen said that Brussels is besides considering specified moves as any levy on scrap exports to the USA. European Union supplies are very welcome by American steel factories.
Referring to the possible domino effect of the global trade war, von der Leyen said EU "will not tolerate" redirection Chinese goods affected by US duties to Europe, adding that Brussels will "take protective measures" if the fresh monitoring mechanics detects an increase in Chinese imports.
Von der Leyen said she brought this to the attention of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang in a telephone call this week, and he replied that ‘This hazard does not be as they will stimulate consumption in China’.
EPA/BAI LU/ PAPLi Qiang, Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, during the beginning ceremony of the Chinese improvement Forum. Beijing, 23 March 2025.
Regardless of the result of negotiations with the US, Trump policy radically changed global trade relations, as von der Leyen said, and stimulated talks between the EU and the powers, including Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and the United arabian Emirates.
— The interest of so many countries around the planet to cooperate with us closer, together to balance the strategy and to make free trade truly compete with quality alternatively than customs tariffs," said von der Leyen.
Both the US and the EU agree that World Trade Organisation principles did not supply equal opportunitiesBecause China subsidizes part of its production by flooding global markets. The trade war has now sparked discussions on "how we can modernise, improvement and stabilise the WTO".
- But The emphasis must be on modernisation and reform, this cannot be the behaviour of what we have present due to the fact that there are besides many difficulties," she said. “ My point is never to waste a good crisis.
