United States President Donald Trump walks toward the White House upon his accomplishment from New Jersey successful Washington DC connected July 6, 2025.
Celal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images
European Union leaders are sounding disconnected connected the 30% tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to enforce connected the commercialized bloc, with astir emphasizing the request for unity, constructive dialog and their readiness to enactment toward an statement by Aug. 1.
"Imposing 30% tariffs connected EU exports would disrupt indispensable transatlantic proviso chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients connected some sides of the Atlantic," Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said successful a statement. "The EU has consistently prioritized a negotiated solution with the U.S., reflecting our committedness to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership."
Some leaders were much captious of Trump's latest move. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof said it's "concerning and not the mode forward" successful a post connected X. Pedro Sánchez, premier curate of Spain, also took to X, calling the duties "unjustified." Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted that the EU "is prepared to respond with pugnacious countermeasures if necessary," portion emphasizing that it would beryllium champion to debar specified a move.
On Saturday morning, Trump announced the 30% tariff rates successful letters to von der Leyen and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, posted connected his Truth Social account. The U.S. president warned that if the EU oregon Mexico retaliate with higher tariffs, "then, immoderate the fig you take to rise them by, volition beryllium added connected to the 30% that we charge."
Trump besides said determination would not beryllium tariffs connected goods from Europe "or companies wrong the EU" that physique oregon manufacture products successful the U.S. This week, Trump sent similar letters to 23 other U.S. trading partners, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, mounting broad tariff rates ranging from 20% up to 50%.
Here's however European leaders person reacted to the latest salvo successful Trump's commercialized skirmish:
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission
Von der Leyen's statement emphasized the EU's committedness to dialog and stability:
"We stay ready to proceed moving towards an agreement by August 1. At the aforesaid time, we volition instrumentality each indispensable steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.
Meanwhile, we proceed to deepen our planetary partnerships, firmly anchored successful the principles of rules-based planetary trade."
Dick Schoof, premier curate of the Netherlands
The Dutch Prime Minister said successful an X post:
"The US announcement of 30% tariffs connected goods imported from the European Union is concerning and not the mode forward. The European Commission tin number connected our afloat support. As the EU we indispensable stay agreed and resolute successful pursuing an result with the United States that is mutually beneficial."
Ulf Kristersson, premier curate of Sweden
Kristersson said connected X that the EU would beryllium acceptable to enforce countermeasures, but emphasized the request to debar that.
"We enactment the EU Commission's tendency to proceed seeking a negotiated solution. The EU is prepared to respond with pugnacious countermeasures if necessary. However, everyone loses successful an escalated commercialized conflict, and it is US consumers who volition wage the highest price. Sweden stands up for escaped commercialized and planetary cooperation."
Emmanuel Macron, president of France
The French President echoed the anticipation of employing countermeasures if nary statement is reached by August, in a station connected X.
"With the President of the European Commission, France shares a precise beardown disapproval regarding the announcement of horizontal customs duties of 30% targeting European Union exports to the United States, effectual from August 1.
In European unity, it is much important than ever for the Commission to asseverate the Union's determination to resolutely support European interests. This notably involves accelerating the mentation of credible countermeasures, by mobilizing each disposable instruments, including the anti-coercion mechanism, if nary statement is reached by August 1.
On this basis, France afloat supports the European Commission successful the intensifying negotiations to scope a mutually acceptable statement by August 1, truthful that it reflects the respect owed betwixt commercialized partners similar the European Union and the United States, with shared interests and integrated worth chains.
Bernd Lange, Chair of the European Parliament's committee connected International Trade and Standing
Trump's missive is "both impertinent and a slap successful the face," Lange said connected X. "We've been negotiating intensely for much than 3 weeks - made offers to amended things successful communal interest. Real willingness to negociate looks different."
"Period of waiting is over: We've postponed the archetypal signifier of countermeasures. Firmly convinced they should travel into unit arsenic planned connected Monday, rapidly followed by the 2nd list. Activation of rebalancing measures to beryllium discussed.
The Italian Government Presidency of the Council of Ministers
The Italian authorities said successful a statement:
"We spot successful the goodwill of each stakeholders to scope a just statement that tin fortify the West arsenic a whole, fixed that—particularly successful the existent environment—it would marque nary consciousness to trigger a commercialized quality betwixt the 2 sides of the Atlantic. It is present indispensable to stay focused connected the negotiations, avoiding polarization that would marque reaching an statement much difficult."
Pedro Sánchez, premier curate of Spain
"Economic openness and commercialized make prosperity. Unjustified tariffs destruct it," Sánchez said successful an X post. "That is wherefore we enactment and volition proceed to enactment the Commission successful its negotiations to scope an statement with the US earlier August 1. United, Europeans signifier the world's largest trading bloc. Let america usage that spot to execute a just agreement."
Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland
"The EU and US bask the biggest commercialized and concern narration successful the world. When issues originate betwixt us, they should beryllium resolved by adjacent and respectful dialog ... While it has been wide that each options stay connected the table, the EU has besides been wide that our penchant is for a negotiated solution that avoids escalation. That remains the case."
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