EU Chief: "We Will Protect Our Interests" Amid Trump's Tariff Warning
by Oh Suyon
Published 05 Feb.2025 06:05(KST)
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union (EU) Commission, stated that "we will protect our interests whenever and however necessary" in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff warnings.
On the 4th (local time), according to the British daily The Guardian and The New York Times (NYT), President von der Leyen said in a speech at the '2025 EU Ambassadors Conference' held in Brussels, Belgium, "We are prepared to engage in tough negotiations and seek possible solutions if necessary."
President von der Leyen emphasized that EU and U.S. goods and services account for about 30% of global trade, and European companies employ 3.5 million Americans. She explained, "Jobs, businesses, and industries that rely on the transatlantic partnership exist in both Europe and the United States," adding, "We want the transatlantic partnership to work well. This is not only because of our historical relationship but also because it is smart business in itself."
At a press conference during the informal EU summit held the previous day, President von der Leyen said that tariffs cause unnecessary economic disruption and inflation, warning, "If tariffs are imposed unfairly and unilaterally, the EU will respond firmly."
President Trump, after postponing tariffs on Canada and Mexico for one month through negotiations the day before, named the EU as the next target for tariffs and stated, "We will definitely impose new tariffs."
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