European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed on Monday that the European Union has offered the United States "zero-for-zero" tariffs on industrial goods.
During a press conference, she reiterated that while the bloc is ready to negotiate on the issue and reach a "good deal," it is also ready to "take countermeasures." The EC president announced that an "Import Surveillance Task Force" will be formed in order for the EU to protect itself from indirect tariff effects and defend its interests.
The bloc will continue to discuss how to respond to the US tariffs and is aiming to strengthen its single market, Von der Leyen added. She underlined that the EU also wants to diversify its trade. "We will focus, like a laser beam, on the 83% of global trade that is beyond the US," she concluded.