The European Commission has offered zero-for-zero tariffs to the US. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Europe is ready to negotiate with Washington, as the EU has offered “zero-for-zero tariffs” for industrial goods the bloc exports to the US. Meanwhile, she said the EU will protect itself against indirect effects through trade diversion.
Ahead of a meeting with the bloc’s 27 trade ministers, the European Union’s trade chief, Maros Sefcovic has said that today’s meeting will focus on the paradigm shift in international trade.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has called for a unified European response to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs ahead of a meeting with other EU ministers in Luxembourg.
EU member state Ireland has expressed concern over the possibility that the EU may respond to Trump’s tariffs with measures against the US tech industry.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the country would keep calm and fight for the best deal with the US. He said the government will also work with key partners to reduce barriers to trade across the globe.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said that the EU has offered the US zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods.
In a post on X, she said, “Europe is ready to negotiate with the US. We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods. Because we’re always ready for a good deal. But we’re also prepared to respond with countermeasures. And protect ourselves against indirect effects through trade diversion.”
The European Commission has offered the United States a deal to remove tariffs on all industrial goods as part of the trade negotiations, Ursula von der Leyen has said while stressing her intention to retaliate against Donald Trump’s policies should talks fail.
US President Donald Trump has announced a 20 per cent across-the-board tariff on imports from the European Union, set to take effect on 9 April. Steel, aluminum and cars are subject to a separate 25 per cent rate. In total, over Euro 380 billion in EU-made products will be affected, as per Euro News.
Pharmaceuticals, copper, lumber, semiconductors and energy have been exempted, Euro News reported.
“We stand ready to negotiate with the US. Indeed, we have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners,” the Commission president said on Monday afternoon.
“Because Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the table. But we are also prepared to respond through countermeasures and defend our interests.”
The “zero-for-zero” deal was offered in the past “repeatedly” for the automotive sector, von der Leyen said, “but there was no adequate reaction” from Washington.
The Commission expanded the pitch to all industrial goods in recent days as talks intensified, a spokesperson said. No further details were provided.
“We prefer to have a negotiated solution,” von der Leyen said, warning her executive will use “all instruments” available to hit back “if necessary,” including an anti-coercion instrument that was introduced in 2023 but which has never been triggered.
Von der Leyen described Trump’s sweeping tariffs as a “major turning point for the United States” that would have “immense costs” for American consumers and businesses alike and deliver a “massive” blow to the global economy.
While Washington has described the tariffs as “reciprocal”, Brussels has dismissed its logic as “neither credible nor justified”.
European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maros Sefcovic said the EU is still open to talks with the US on trade, but has seen little willingness from Washington for mutually beneficial negotiations. The bloc is set to roll out countermeasures on April 15, the EU’s trade commissioner added, as per Al Jazeera.
