European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in response to President Trump’s latest tariff announcement, say they’re open to commerce talks however will not rule out taking countermeasures.
Trump in his Saturday letters to von der Leyen and Sheinbaum introduced a 30 p.c tariff fee on items imported into the U.S. starting Aug. 1, after an preliminary 90-day pause and deadline delay lapses on the import taxes.
“Imposing 30 p.c tariffs on EU exports would disrupt important transatlantic provide chains, to the detriment of companies, customers and sufferers on each side of the Atlantic,” the European Union (EU) chief wrote in a press release.
BestReviews is reader-supported and will earn an affiliate fee.
Amazon Prime Day Offers
“Few economies on the earth match the European Union’s degree of openness and adherence to truthful buying and selling practices,” von der Leyen continued. “The EU has persistently prioritized a negotiated answer with the U.S., reflecting our dedication to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership.”
Nonetheless, the European chief stated the fee is open to working towards an settlement earlier than the latest deadline arrives.
“We stay able to proceed working in the direction of an settlement by August 1,” von der Leyen wrote. “On the similar time, we’ll take all crucial steps to safeguard EU pursuits, together with the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.”
She added, “In the meantime, we proceed to deepen our international partnerships, firmly anchored within the ideas of rules-based worldwide commerce.”
Sheinbaum on Saturday stated Mexican leaders met with the Trump administration on Thursday to debate “problems with safety, migration, border and water administration.”
“We talked about on the assembly that this was an unfair deal and that we disagreed,” she wrote in a statement, based on translation. She added later, “In different phrases, Mexico is already in negotiations.”
In April, Trump hit the EU with a 20 p.c tariff. Following his “Liberation Day” announcement, von der Leyen stated the fee was open to commerce discussions. Later within the month, she lashed out at Trump, accusing him of leaning on an “unpredictable tariff coverage.”
The president has previously claimed the EU has been unfair to the U.S. and argued that the bloc of countries was created to “screw” America. A number of of the union’s member states — together with Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands — are thought of prime buying and selling companions.
Mexico, which is the U.S.’s prime buying and selling companion, together with Canada earlier this 12 months have been slapped with 25 p.c tariffs — excluding items coated below the U.S.-Mexico-Canada commerce settlement. Sheinbaum and Trump have also clashed previously over the import taxes.
In her assertion Saturday, the Mexican chief stated commerce talks have been targeted on seeking to defend firms and jobs “on each side of the border.”
Trump in current days began sending letters to varied international locations with new tariff charges set to start on Aug. 1. The duties on items coming into the U.S. have hit prime commerce companions and poorer international locations alike as he reorients the nation’s commerce coverage.
To date, the leaders of 25 international locations have obtained letters with up to date “retaliatory” tariff charges starting from 20 p.c to 50 p.c.
Whereas he initially stated the August date was “not firm” for imposing the taxes, the president has since doubled down on the deadline — although the Trump administration has left open the door for extra commerce offers.
Trump has thus far introduced simply one official agreement with the UK in addition to frameworks for offers with China and Vietnam.