EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc is “prepared for every scenario” following renewed trade tensions with the United States after President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on European cars and trucks.
Speaking in Yerevan on Tuesday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen rejected claims that the EU had failed to comply with a previously agreed trade arrangement, insisting that both sides remain committed to implementation.
“A deal is a deal, and we have a deal,” von der Leyen told reporters. “We are both implementing this deal while respecting the different democratic procedures we have on both sides.”
Trump announced on Friday that he intended to increase tariffs on EU vehicles from 15 to 25%, accusing the bloc of not fully honouring a trade accord reached last year. The European Commission has dismissed the allegation and maintained that it is continuing to implement the agreement.
The EU-U.S. trade pact, agreed last year, set a 15% cap on U.S. tariffs for most European goods, including automobiles. However, parts of the agreement still require finalisation through EU internal procedures, including coordination with member states.
Von der Leyen said the EU was in the final stages of implementing remaining commitments, while also noting that Washington had outstanding obligations under the deal.
“At the same time, the U.S. has the commitment—for example where alignment with the agreed ceiling is still outstanding,” she said. “So we want from this work mutual gain, cooperation and reliability—and we are prepared for every scenario,” she added.
EU officials have confirmed that further talks are expected between trade representatives on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in Paris.
