European Union officials are preparing a two-pronged strategy this week to respond to President Donald Trump’s intensifying trade offensive, offering significant concessions even as they ready a raft of retaliatory measures.
In a move that could shape transatlantic relations for years to come, the European Commission, the E.U.’s executive arm, circulated on Monday evening a list of American goods targeted for tariffs. Representatives of the 27-member bloc are expected to vote on the list by Wednesday, with levies potentially taking effect in two waves — the first on April 15 and the second a month later.
Speaking in Brussels, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, struck a tone of cautious optimism, proposing a “zero-for-zero” deal to eliminate tariffs on key products such as cars, should Washington reciprocate. The E.U. currently applies a 10 percent tariff on U.S. vehicles, a rate that has long irked the White House.
“We are offering an open hand,” von der Leyen said. “But we are equally prepared to defend our interests if necessary.”
Maros Sefcovic, the E.U. trade commissioner, underscored this dual-track strategy, insisting that while Europe prefers dialogue, it will not hesitate to act if talks falter. “We are fully prepared to sit at the negotiation table whenever our American partners are ready,” he said from Luxembourg, following what he described as a “frank” two-hour meeting with American trade officials.
The list of targeted U.S. products remains under wraps for now, but earlier drafts suggested Europe would hit a wide range of goods, from bourbon and boats to clothing and farm products, with tariffs amounting to roughly $28.4 billion. However, after weeks of consultations and growing concerns about escalation, officials signaled the final list would be somewhat pared back.
The most symbolic casualty of these revisions appears to be American whiskey. Bourbon had become a particular flashpoint after Mr. Trump threatened a draconian 200 percent tariff on European wines and spirits — a threat that sent French and Italian winemakers into a panic and prompted European policymakers to reconsider their approach.
“We are taking a strategic view,” said Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, who hinted during a radio interview that whiskey might indeed be spared. He expressed hopes for “good news” when the final list is unveiled.
The European Union’s carefully calibrated approach reflects a broader recognition of the risks a full-blown trade war could pose. Jorn Fleck, senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, observed that Europe had so far “played it smart” by avoiding an escalating tit-for-tat spiral. “Waiting until the pain begins to bite in the U.S., while projecting a readiness to respond with strength, is a deliberate strategy,” he said.
Still, the internal dynamics within the bloc remain complex. Northern European countries have pushed for a robust response, even advocating the use of new trade powers to target American tech giants like Google and Amazon. Others, such as Italy, have struck a more conciliatory tone.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned against forcing European countries into a binary choice between the United States and the E.U. “It’s childish,” she said, cautioning that aggressive retaliation could harm Italy’s economy more than it would hurt the U.S.
Yet despite their differences, European leaders appear united on one key point: the desire to negotiate. The problem, officials concede, is that Washington seems less inclined toward compromise.
Speaking in Luxembourg, Sefcovic remarked that American negotiators see tariffs not merely as leverage, but as necessary correctives to what they view as unfair European trade practices.
This stance was echoed by White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, who launched a broadside against Europe’s policies on Monday. “You steal from the American people every which way is possible,” Navarro declared, demanding not just tariff reductions, but the removal of value-added taxes and restrictions on American hormone-treated meat.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and one of Trump’s close confidants, struck a more hopeful note. Addressing Italy’s far-right League party via videoconference over the weekend, Musk urged Europe and the United States to move toward a “zero-tariff situation,” envisioning a future of seamless free trade between the world’s two largest economies.
Such optimism, however, remains a distant prospect. For now, European officials are bracing for a turbulent few months, hoping their blend of diplomacy and determination will steer relations away from the brink — but steeling themselves for a fight if it does not.
As one senior E.U. diplomat put it on Monday evening: “We prefer peace. But we are ready for battle.”
