The European Union declared on Monday that its members are “ready to negotiate” with President Donald Trump three days after a devastating wave of tariffs have left their imprint on exports bound for the U.S.
In prepared remarks, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen insisted that Europe “is always ready for a good deal,” underscoring a theme that President Trump has sought to strike since leveeing the tariffs last week. Von der Leyen’s speech is the most high-profile instance of a European leader appearing to acknowledge that the E.U. would not be able to maintain its trade surplus against the U.S. for much longer.
“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners,” the German politician said before welcoming Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre to Brussels.
The tariffs, she added, “come … at immense costs for US consumers and businesses,” as she insisted the EU “stand ready to negotiate with the United States.”
The EU will remain prepared to “respond through countermeasures and defend our interests” as it looked to step up its protection against “indirect effects [of] trade diversion,” Von de Leyen stated, according to the Guardian.