In a statement that icily took note of Trump’s missive, von der Leyen said the EU was ready to keep talking to the U.S., while also considering “proportionate countermeasures.”
“We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests,” said von der Leyen. “Imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Commission staff were abruptly told to put weekend plans on hold and report for duty, while national capitals immediately went into crisis mode to try and assess the next move.
Five EU diplomats confirmed that ambassadors would convene at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday for emergency talks, ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s trade ministers in Brussels on Monday.
The EU had been pushing for a deal that would have locked in a one-way baseline tariff at 10 percent on goods entering the U.S. from Europe. It was also seeking relief for specific sectors, including cars, aircraft and spirits.
Time getting tight
“The letter might read like a decree, but everyone will notice the date of Aug. 1,” one of the diplomats told POLITICO, suggesting that a full-scale trade war can still be averted. “If it truly were a decree it would enter into force tomorrow. This gives us three weeks for negotiations that were at a very far advanced stage already.”
