Officials were taken by surprise when Trump unexpectedly announced a 30 percent blanket tariff on Saturday, with a warning that any EU retaliations would be met with equal measures. Staff were summoned to work urgently, and a statement was released in von der Leyen’s name, not ruling out countermeasures.
EU envoys will convene at a Foreign Affairs Council focused on trade on Monday to discuss the Commission’s next steps, with two diplomats expressing optimism about reaching an agreement before the August 1 deadline.
“We have a two-track approach and still prefer a negotiated solution,” stated von der Leyen.
Over the weekend, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Brussels to adopt a firmer stance against the U.S. after the tariff announcement.
“It is the Commission’s duty to firmly defend European interests,” he wrote online. “This includes preparing credible countermeasures urgently, using all available tools, including anti-coercion, if no agreement is reached by August 1st.”
The countermeasures — potentially impacting €21 billion of U.S. goods like soybeans, motorcycles, and orange juice — were set to be effective from 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Their suspension came after the EU pledged to respond to Trump’s Saturday announcement.
When asked if the EU might use its Anti-Coercion Instrument against American banks and businesses, von der Leyen remarked that the measures are for extraordinary situations and stated that negotiations are underway, while also emphasizing readiness for all possible outcomes.
This article has been updated.
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