European Commission Says It’s Ready To Negotiate With Donald Trump Amid Tariff Crisis
The Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasised her readiness to retaliate against Trump’s policies should talks fail.
Following the controversy surrounding the United States tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, the European Commission has offered the U.S. a deal to remove tariffs on all industrial goods as part of ongoing trade negotiations.
The Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasised her readiness to retaliate against Trump’s policies should talks fail.
Trump announced a 20% across-the-board tariff on imports from the European Union, set to take effect on April 9. Steel, aluminum, and cars will be subject to a separate 25% rate.
In total, over €380billion worth of EU-made products will be affected.
Pharmaceuticals, copper, lumber, semiconductors, and energy products have been exempted.
“We stand ready to negotiate with the U.S. Indeed, we have offered zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods, as we have successfully done with many other trading partners,” von der Leyen said Monday afternoon.
“Europe is always ready for a good deal, so we keep it on the table. But we are also prepared to respond with countermeasures to defend our interests.”
Von der Leyen noted that the “zero-for-zero” deal had previously been offered specifically for the automotive sector, “but there was no adequate reaction” from Washington.
In recent days, the Commission expanded the offer to cover all industrial goods as talks intensified, a spokesperson confirmed, though no further details were provided.
“We prefer to have a negotiated solution,” von der Leyen said, warning that her administration will use “all instruments” available, including a never-before-used anti-coercion mechanism introduced in 2023, to retaliate “if necessary.”
She described Trump’s sweeping tariffs as a “major turning point for the United States,” warning they would impose “immense costs” on American consumers and businesses, while delivering a “massive blow” to the global economy.
Earlier, SaharaReporters had reported that President Trump unveiled his most expansive tariff measures to date, targeting over 100 trading partners — including Nigeria — with increased levies, sparking fears of a global trade war.
Under the new tariff regime, Nigerian exports to the U.S. will face a 14% duty, compared to the 27% tariff Nigeria imposes on U.S. goods.
This policy shift could have significant economic implications. Last year, Nigeria exported goods — primarily crude oil — worth ₦931 billion to the U.S., while importing ₦1.05 trillion in return.
Trump’s tariff escalation has triggered swift backlash from allies.
The European Union, Britain, India, and China were all included in the latest round of duties, while Mexico and Canada were spared.
