The European Union announced on Saturday its readiness to take similar retaliatory measures after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 30% tariffs on European goods imported into the United States, starting August 1, 2025.

The threat came in a letter Trump sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which he posted on the Truth Social platform on Saturday. He said,"Starting August 1, 2025, we will impose a 30% tariff on European products exported to the United States, in addition to other sectoral tariffs." He warned that any European move to increase tariffs and retaliate in kind will be met with American escalation. He explained,"If you decide to raise your tariffs for any reason, this increase will be in addition to the 30% that we will already impose."

At the end of his message, Trump hinted at the possibility of adjusting the proposed tariffs upwards or downwards depending on the evolution of trade relations, calling on the European Union to open its historically closed markets to the United States and eliminate tariffs and trade and non-trade barriers.

Disrupting supply chains and harming businesses and consumers on both sides of the ocean

For her part, von der Leyen responded in an official statement, calling for continued dialogue with Washington. She also emphasized that Brussels was considering proportionate countermeasures, adding,"We will take all necessary steps to protect the interests of the European Union." She considered that imposing a 30% tariff on EU exports would disrupt vital transatlantic supply chains and harm companies and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.

In response to Trump's accusations that the European Union treats the United States unfairly, she said:"Few global economies match the European Union's level of openness and commitment to fair trade principles."

For her part, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni affirmed that Rome supports the European Commission's efforts regarding tariffs, which will be intensified in the coming days.

She stressed the need to focus on negotiations because further polarization could make reaching an agreement on tariffs more difficult, expressing confidence in the possibility of reaching a fair agreement on tariffs between the European Union and the United States.

European capitals enter a state of alert

European diplomatic sources reported that the European Commission has recalled its staff to work over the weekend, while European capitals have entered a state of alert to assess the situation and prepare for a response. Five European diplomats confirmed that member state ambassadors will hold an emergency meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, preceded by a meeting of European trade ministers in Brussels on Monday.

The European Union was seeking to reach an agreement with Washington that would impose unilateral tariffs of 10% on European goods, with special exemptions for sectors such as cars, aircraft, and alcoholic beverages.

"The letter may sound like a decree, but everyone notes that the implementation date is August 1, which means we have three weeks to continue advanced negotiations," a European diplomat told Politico.

The first round of European retaliatory tariffs is scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, covering €21.5 billion in US imports. Brussels is also considering additional measures covering up to €70 billion in US imports.