EU Says Transatlantic Ties May Never Be the Same After Trump’s Tariffs

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the EU’s relationship with the United States may never return to its previous state following President Donald Trump’s new round of tariffs.

“This is an undeniable turning point in our relationship with the U.S. We will never go back to the way things were,” von der Leyen said in an interview with the Financial Times published April 13. Her comments came in response to Washington’s latest retaliatory tariffs targeting the European Union and the outlook for future trade talks.

Reflecting on the volatility that shook global financial markets in the past week, von der Leyen said the new U.S. trade policies are “the price we’re paying for today’s chaos and uncertainty.” She added, “There are no winners in this fight—everyone loses.”

On April 10, the European Commission temporarily suspended retaliatory tariffs on roughly €21 billion ($23.8 billion) worth of American goods. The move was intended as a gesture to pave the way for renewed negotiations with Washington, following Trump’s announcement last month of new tariffs on European steel and aluminum imports.

Von der Leyen revealed that talks between the EU and U.S. began even before Trump formally unveiled the new tariffs on April 2, but Washington asked Brussels to wait until after the announcement to proceed with negotiations. The EU is now working within a 90-day window to reach what von der Leyen called a “comprehensive and balanced” agreement.

The Commission president has publicly backed a proposal for zero tariffs on industrial goods between the U.S. and EU. However, the U.S. side has shown more concern over non-tariff barriers—such as VAT rules and differing product standards—which officials argue put American companies at a disadvantage.

While open to discussions on aligning product standards, von der Leyen cautioned that progress may be limited due to “different lifestyles and cultural values that shape our regulations.”

She also made it clear that the EU would not revisit its digital and antitrust rules—areas where U.S. tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon have come under increasing scrutiny. Nor will the EU negotiate its VAT system, which she said functions similarly to sales taxes in the U.S.

If talks fail, von der Leyen confirmed that the EU will automatically reinstate retaliatory tariffs and may escalate the trade dispute into services—specifically targeting digital advertising revenue, a direct hit to major U.S. tech firms.

“We’re preparing countermeasures,” she said, noting the EU may, for the first time, activate its Anti-Coercion Instrument, allowing it to target U.S. service exports.

“We have plenty of tools at our disposal if negotiations don’t deliver,” von der Leyen said. “Many of the services doing very well in our market—about 80%—come from the United States. But I want to be clear: the EU still believes a negotiated solution would be the best outcome for both sides.”

(Sources: Financial Times, Euronews, Reuters)

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