‘West as we knew it no longer exists,’ says EU's von der Leyen
The bloc needs to seek new partners amidst growing trade tensions with the US, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit published on Tuesday, she acknowledged that the...
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The bloc needs to seek new partners amidst growing trade tensions with the US, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit published on Tuesday, she acknowledged that the EU no longer considers the US its primary trading partner, following significant tariffs implemented by former President Donald Trump.
“The West as we knew it no longer exists,” she stated. “The world has become a globe also geopolitically, and today our networks of friendship span the globe, as you can see in the debate about tariffs.”
These remarks follow the Trump administration's introduction of a sweeping 20% tariff on all EU goods and a 25% tariff on car imports. In retaliation, the EU enacted its own 25% tariffs on US imports. Trump subsequently announced a 90-day suspension of most global tariffs while negotiations with trade partners took place.
In Von der Leyen's view, the escalating tensions with the US have led to a “positive side effect,” with many countries eager to engage with the EU. “Everyone is asking for more trade with Europe – and it’s not just about economic ties. It is also about establishing common rules and it is about predictability,” she remarked.
When asked if her comments about the West signified “a final farewell to the United States,” von der Leyen emphasized her strong belief in the US-EU relationship. “But the new reality also includes the fact that many other states are seeking to draw closer to us. 13% of global trade is with the United States. 87% of the world’s trade is with other countries,” she noted.
Consequently, she advised that the EU should “open up new markets for our companies and establish as close a relationship as possible with many countries that have the same interests as us.”
As US-EU tensions grow—highlighted by Trump's comment that the EU “was formed in order to screw” America—certain leaders within the bloc are advocating for a reassessment of bilateral relations.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
In an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit published on Tuesday, she acknowledged that the EU no longer considers the US its primary trading partner, following significant tariffs implemented by former President Donald Trump.
“The West as we knew it no longer exists,” she stated. “The world has become a globe also geopolitically, and today our networks of friendship span the globe, as you can see in the debate about tariffs.”
These remarks follow the Trump administration's introduction of a sweeping 20% tariff on all EU goods and a 25% tariff on car imports. In retaliation, the EU enacted its own 25% tariffs on US imports. Trump subsequently announced a 90-day suspension of most global tariffs while negotiations with trade partners took place.
In Von der Leyen's view, the escalating tensions with the US have led to a “positive side effect,” with many countries eager to engage with the EU. “Everyone is asking for more trade with Europe – and it’s not just about economic ties. It is also about establishing common rules and it is about predictability,” she remarked.
When asked if her comments about the West signified “a final farewell to the United States,” von der Leyen emphasized her strong belief in the US-EU relationship. “But the new reality also includes the fact that many other states are seeking to draw closer to us. 13% of global trade is with the United States. 87% of the world’s trade is with other countries,” she noted.
Consequently, she advised that the EU should “open up new markets for our companies and establish as close a relationship as possible with many countries that have the same interests as us.”
As US-EU tensions grow—highlighted by Trump's comment that the EU “was formed in order to screw” America—certain leaders within the bloc are advocating for a reassessment of bilateral relations.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
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