European Union offers US a 'zero-for-zero' tariff plan to avoid a trade war

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made it clear that the EU would not rule out retaliation against the U.S. if it meant protecting its interests.

By Charlotte Hazard

Published: April 7, 2025 12:16pm

The European Union on Monday proposed a 'zero-for-zero' tariff plan to the U.S.

The offer was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, following President Donald Trump last week placing a 20% tariff on the EU.

“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners," Leyen said during a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

She said that Europe has always been ready for a good deal regarding tariffs, according to the news outlet Politico.

Meanwhile, the EU's 27 trade ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss the U.S. measures and to come up with an alternative plan.

The plan by the commission, which coordinates EU trade policy, is in specific response to Trump's earlier steel and aluminum tariffs rather than the broader, more-recently announced reciprocal levies, according to Reuters. But the consensus among the countries appears challenging, considering the leaders each have their own domestic considerations.

Among the EU leaders who appear most eager to retaliate are French President Emmanuel Macron, who is calling Trump's tariffs “brutal and unfounded.”