European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that she will not meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington until concrete trade talks between the EU and the U.S. are possible.
Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, she expressed a desire for a specific package to discuss with the U.S., hoping to find a solution that both sides could agree upon.
The European Commission has launched a public consultation targeting U.S. imports worth 95 billion euros (107.2 billion U.S. dollars), warning that retaliatory measures could take effect if ongoing negotiations with the United States fail to yield an agreement, according to a statement released by the Commission on Thursday.
The consultation covers a broad range of U.S. industrial and agricultural goods, including wine, frozen meat, aircraft, cars and car parts, chemicals, electrical equipment, healthcare products, and machinery.
Currently, the EU faces 25 percent U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, alongside 10 percent baseline duties on most other exports. The bloc has been preparing for a possible end to a 90-day tariff truce, which is set to expire on July 8. If no deal is reached, the U.S. universal tariffs could rise to 20 percent.
The Commission stated that the consultation on countermeasures aims to address both the universal U.S. tariffs and those specifically targeting cars and auto parts.
At the same time, the Commission announced that the EU will launch a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute against the so-called "reciprocal" tariffs and duties on vehicles and vehicle components. The EU will submit a formal request for consultations, arguing that the U.S. measures violate core WTO rules.
Von der Leyen says no US visit until EU-US trade talks possible
Von der Leyen says no US visit until EU-US trade talks possible
Von der Leyen says no US visit until EU-US trade talks possible
Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Italy and Greece on Saturday to protest against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, with protesters in Rome, Milan and Athens condemning Washington's actions and calling for respect for Venezuelan sovereignty.
In Rome, more than 1,000 demonstrators marched toward the area near the U.S. Embassy, calling on Washington to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Police blocked roads around the embassy to prevent protesters from approaching the building, but demonstrators continued to denounce U.S. actions.
"First of all, we oppose U.S. imperialist aggression. This kind of behavior is shameful. The U.S. is attacking a sovereign country, and as [U.S. President Donald] Trump himself has said, this is for oil interests," said protester Giovanni Barbera.
Saturday's rally marked the second large-scale protest in Rome this month against U.S. military operations in Venezuela, following an earlier one on on Jan 3.
Participants included members of multiple political parties, labor unions and social organizations. The protesters held banners reading "Stop imperialist interference" and "Free Maduro," urging the international community to respect Venezuela's sovereignty and the will of its people, and condemning the U.S. for violating international law.
"We are protesting the way the U.S. handles international politics. Since the events of January 3, we have seen violations of international law, and we are very concerned about how the global situation is developing," said protester Stefano De Angelis.
Organizers said solidarity rallies in support of Venezuela were held in 30 Italian cities on the same day.
Meanwhile, similar protests were also staged in Greece. About 200 people gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, voicing support for Venezuela and opposition to U.S. military actions.
"We oppose U.S. imperialism and its attack on Venezuela. At the same time, the U.S. is also threatening Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. We must stand up against this behavior," said Greek protester Argiro Sirmakezi.
Protesters rally in Italy, Greece against U.S. military operation in Venezuela
