European Union, Ursula von der Leyen and countermeasures
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France has been one of the loudest voices in Europe calling for retaliatory tariffs against the United States if a deal isn’t reached. Macron reiterated a plea for the European Commission, which is negotiating on behalf of the EU countries, to mobilise “all the instruments at its disposal”.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, announced a political agreement to progress the EU-Indonesia free trade deal. She highlighted the untapped potential in their trade relations,
The EU’s current suspension of its retaliation over US steel and aluminium tariffs had been set to expire overnight Monday to Tuesday. Brussels has readied duties on US goods worth around 21 billion euros in response to the levies Trump slapped on metal imports earlier this year.
Here's yet another proof of the total incompetence of Ursula von der Leyen and the Brussels leadership, Hungary's minister of foreign affairs and trade wrote in a post on social media.
Trump made the announcement on tariff for both EU and Mexico through two letters shared on social media. The move adds pressure on US allies to renegotiate trade terms before the new rates take effect on August 1.
At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, European leaders pledged long-term support for Kyiv’s defense and reconstruction. Starmer and Macron revealed “ready” peacekeeping plans, while von der Leyen announced €4 billion in grants and a major reconstruction fund.
When asked for comments on reports that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made three demands to China on Tuesday, including one regarding cooperation with Russia, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning responded on Wednesday that the normal cooperation between China and Russia does not target any third party and should not be interfered with by any third party.