EU chief: 'Countries lining up to work with us' amid Trump tariffs
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said in a Politico report published Tuesday that “countries are lining up to work with us” amid economic anxiety around President Trump's tariffs. "In a more and more unpredictable global environment, countries are lining up to work with us," von der Leyen told Politico, with...
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said in a Politico report published Tuesday that “countries are lining up to work with us” amid economic anxiety around President Trump's tariffs.
"In a more and more unpredictable global environment, countries are lining up to work with us," von der Leyen told Politico, with the European leader saying countries were seeking “strong, reliable partners.”
The European Commission president also said that when it comes to the world order, fluctuation is occurring “more deeply than at any time since the Cold War ended."
Following Trump's unveiling of sweeping tariffs earlier this month, von der Leyen criticized them and told Europeans that she knew “that many of you feel let down by our oldest ally.”
“President Trump’s announcement of universal tariffs on the whole world, including the European Union, is a major blow to the world economy. I deeply regret this choice. Let’s be clear-eyed about the immense consequences. The global economy will massively suffer,” she said at the time.
In the Politico interview, von der Leyen said she has since spoken with leaders from Iceland, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Canada, India and the United Arab Emirates.
In early April, Trump issued a 90-day pause on “reciprocal” tariffs against trading partners amid market instability, while driving up tariffs on China. The European Union (EU) is among those who have been targeted with tariffs, a group that also includes longtime U.S. allies such as Vietnam, India and South Korea.
Trump’s recent moves on tariffs have strained long-standing relationships with the EU and Canada, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney saying in March that the old U.S.-Canada relationship is “over.”
“The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over,” Carney said.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
