The European Commission has threatened that if the United States enforces a 30 percent tariff on European goods starting August 1, the European Union (EU) will be ready to take all necessary measures to protect its interests.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this on Saturday. She said, “The EU is prepared to continue negotiations aimed at reaching a trade agreement by August 1, but if the United States unilaterally proceeds with imposing tariffs, we will take all necessary steps to defend our interests.”
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 30 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union. He stated on social media that this tariff would take effect from August 1. Earlier this week, Trump also announced new tariffs on various countries including Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Brazil.
Ursula von der Leyen said, “Very few economies in the world maintain the openness and fair trade practices like the European Union. If necessary, we will take all effective measures including proportional retaliation.”
Source: Deutsche Welle