The EU is prepared to enter a “zero-for-zero tariffs” agreement on industrial goods, according to the President of the European Commission.
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, announced that Brussels is open to negotiating a new tariff agreement with the United States. This announcement follows President Donald Trump’s imposition of a blanket 20% tariff on the EU, scheduled to take effect on Wednesday.
“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods,” von der Leyen stated during a press conference on Monday. “Europe is always ready for a good deal, so we keep it on the table.”
The offer was made after a meeting of EU trade ministers in Luxembourg, where, according to Reuters, the bloc decided to prioritize negotiations with Washington over engaging in a trade war.
The EU Commission head also mentioned that the bloc has alternative measures prepared if an agreement cannot be reached, though she did not provide specifics. “We are also prepared to respond through countermeasures and defend our interests,” she said, emphasizing the EU’s intention to defend itself “against indirect effects through trade diversion.”
Maros Sefcovic, the EU commissioner for trade and economic security, echoed these sentiments on X, stating that the bloc is “fully ready to negotiate whenever our US partners are” while also continuing to develop countermeasures.
Previously, the Trump administration had implemented 25% import tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, a policy justified by the president as a response to nations with high barriers to US goods.
Last week, the US introduced levies ranging from 10% to 50% on imports from over 200 countries it considers to be engaging in unfair trade practices.
On Monday, President Trump claimed on social media that the tariffs were effective and generating substantial economic benefits for the US. Later that day, Trump accused the EU of treating the US “badly,” and acknowledged the EU’s willingness to eliminate tariffs now, but stated that the concessions offered by the bloc were insufficient.
“It’s not only tariffs, it’s not monetary tariffs,” Trump said. The EU authorities “come up with rules and regulations that are just designed for one reason that you cannot sell your products in those countries and we’re not going to let that happen,” he stated.