EU Defines Its Position on US Tariffs: Ready to Negotiate or Respond in Kind

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, confirmed on Thursday, June 26, that the European Union has received a new document from the United States regarding ongoing negotiations on mutual customs tariffs, noting that "all options are still on the table".

This came during statements made by von der Leyen after the end of the European Union summit in Brussels, where she said: "We are evaluating the American document... Our message today is clear: we are ready to reach an agreement, but at the same time, we are preparing for a scenario of no agreement. We will defend European interests when needed".

French President Emmanuel Macron, on the other hand, affirmed during the same press conference that Paris supports reaching a "quick and practical" trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, but it will not accept any imbalanced conditions.

Macron stated: "All available tools must be used to ensure a fair agreement", warning that "European goodwill should not be interpreted as weakness".

He added that if the United States continues to impose customs tariffs of 10% on European exports, then the Union must respond with similar measures, saying: "Balance is a fundamental requirement for any acceptable agreement".