Ursula von der Leyen says that “the immediate answer is unity and determination”
The European Commission ensures that it has a solid plan to retaliate the customs tariff ads of US President Donald Trump, which will decide to be implemented from Tuesday, already reinforcing the unique European Union (EU) market.
“Our goal is a negotiated solution, but of course, if necessary, we will protect our interests, our citizens and our companies. […] We do not necessarily want to retaliate, but we have a solid plan to retaliate, if necessary, ”said the president of the community executive, Ursula von der Leyen, in a speech this morning at the plenary session of the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg.
After Donald Trump announced in recent months increases of 25% of customs rights on steel, aluminum, cars and car parts, the guardian stated that “the immediate response is unit and determination.”
“I’ve been in contact with our heads of state and government [da UE] About the next steps. We have today the parliamentary debate and we will carefully evaluate tomorrow’s ads [terça-feira] To calibrate our answer, ”added the official at a time when a new American announcement of so-called reciprocal tariffs that will apply to almost all goods and many countries in the world are expected, and the next sectors should be semiconductors, pharmaceutical products and wood.
According to von der Leyen, this is a “wrong confrontation,” but for which the EU “has everything necessary” to face it, namely the fact that it has the largest unique market in the world and “the strength to negotiate and the power to resist.”
Regarding the single market, the president of the European Commission admits that “there are too many obstacles that enter companies”, so the EU should “do their homework.”
“That’s why I charged the Executive Vice President [responsável pela Prosperidade e Estratégia Industrial, Stéphane] Séjourné of presenting, next month, concrete and bold proposals to eliminate some of these obstacles and avoid new, ”he said.
“These reforms are delayed and have now become more urgent than ever. In a stormy global economy, the unique market is our safe haven,” said Ursula von der Leyen.
According to the provisional agenda of the College of Commissioners, the strategy for the single market will be presented on 21 May.
The single market ensures the free movement of goods, services, capital and people in the EU.
From the immediate European response to the United States is also part of “a position of strength” for their capabilities (such as technological or others) and the diversification of trade agreements, when the EU already has protocols in force with 76 countries and is increasing this network with Mercosur, Mexico and Switzerland, he concluded.
Also present in the debate, the president of the European Council, António Costa, argued that “being more competitive on all fronts is not just the right way, but the only way to a stronger union because being competitive means having more economic resilience.”
The European Union is preparing for tensions in relation to Donald Trump’s new administration, especially in relation to commercial tariffs, but in the community space hangs the uncertainty about the transatlantic partnership.
The European Commission has the competence of the commercial policy in the EU.
