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Brussels offers opening to Washington, but also prepares countermeasures. Tajani announces European counterduties operational from 15 April. Baranowski: ‘Plan B is ready’

The European Union extends its hand to the United States but does not let its guard down. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced today in Brussels the offer of reciprocal zero tariffs on industrial goods between the EU and the US, calling it a significant opening: ‘As we have done with other partners, we are ready to negotiate also with Washington. It is a concrete offer: zero-zero duties’.

The statement comes in response to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of 20 per cent duties on steel and aluminium imports from the European Union, a measure that according to von der Leyen has a ‘massive impact on the global economy’, particularly affecting developing countries.

During a press point with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, von der Leyen reiterated that Europe ‘is always ready for a good agreement’, but that at the same time it is ready to defend its own interests: ‘We are also ready to react with countermeasures’.

A line also confirmed in recent days, when from Samarkand – on an official visit – the president of the Commission had made it known that Brussels is finalising an initial package of countermeasures, and that other measures are being prepared in the event the negotiations fail.

The EU’s message was also reinforced by Polish Under-Secretary Michal Baranowski, who today, explaining the outcome of the Trade Council in Luxembourg, made it clear that ‘plan A is to negotiate’, but that ‘plan B, i.e. a concrete response, is ready and firmly in the bag’.

On the Italian side, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that the list of US products subject to EU counter-duties will come into force on 15 April, as a direct response to the tariffs imposed by Washington.

Von der Leyen’s offer aims to avoid a new trade escalation between the two sides of the Atlantic, but the climate remains tense. The ball is now in the United States’ court.

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