Egypt Daily News – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a sharply worded response Saturday to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose steep new tariffs on European exports, signaling that the European Union is ready to strike back if necessary.
In a statement that carried both diplomatic restraint and a warning, von der Leyen criticized Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on EU goods to 30%, a move set to take effect on August 1. “A 30% tariff on EU exports will disrupt critical supply chains, harming businesses, consumers, and even patients on both sides of the Atlantic,” she said, according to Western media reports.
She emphasized that while Brussels remains open to dialogue, it will not stand idle: “We are still prepared to work toward an agreement by August 1. However, we will take all necessary measures to safeguard the EU’s interests, including adopting proportionate countermeasures if required.”
The message was echoed by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who voiced concern over Trump’s decision, calling it “deeply troubling.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Schoof wrote: “This is not the right path forward. The European Commission can count on our full support. As the EU, we must remain united and firm in seeking a mutually beneficial outcome with the United States.”
Trump, for his part, has shown no signs of backing down. In messages posted on his platform Truth Social earlier the same day, the former president declared that all goods imported into the U.S. from both the European Union and Mexico would face a 30% tariff starting August 1.
In a letter addressed directly to von der Leyen on Friday, Trump framed the move as a matter of fairness. “It is a great honor for me to send you this letter,” he wrote. “It reflects the strength and commitment of our trade relationship. The United States has agreed to continue working with the European Union, despite one of the largest trade deficits we have ever had. Nevertheless, we are moving forward—but only through fairer and more balanced trade.”
The decision marks a dramatic escalation in what could become a renewed transatlantic trade war. Trump’s latest tariffs are triple the rate initially proposed and suggest a return to the aggressive protectionism that defined his first term. With the August 1 deadline fast approaching, all eyes are now on Brussels—and how far the EU is willing to go to defend its economic interests.
