The European Union has expressed its readiness to negotiate with the United States of America with an offer of zero tariffs on industrial goods.
The EU, however, said it was planning on how to defend interests.
The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, said this on Monday, while sharing her views on US tariffs.
The EU chief was welcoming Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre to Brussels when she briefly spoke to reporters.
She said that the US tariffs “come at immense costs for US consumers and businesses,”; as she insisted the EU “stands ready to negotiate with the United States.
“Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the table,”; she said, adding the EU “offered zero for zero tariffs for industrial goods, ... because Europe is always ready for good deal.”;
But she added the EU was “also prepared to respond through countermeasures and defend our interests,”; as it looked to step up its protection against “indirect effects [of] trade diversion.”;
Von der Leyen said she has engaged with key industrial stakeholders across the bloc to consult on next steps.
She also stressed that the EU should work on “strengthening its single market [by] getting rid of remaining barriers”; in response to tariff disruptions.
