The European Union is heading into crucial trade talks with the United States this week, armed with a dual strategy. While prioritizing negotiations aimed at reducing tariffs, the EU is simultaneously preparing retaliatory measures should these discussions fail to yield a satisfactory outcome.

This assertive stance follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement to double import duties on European steel and aluminum, raising them from 25 percent to 50 percent. A spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch responsible for trade policy, underscored the bloc’s commitment to de-escalation.

“We don’t want to go down the route of tariffs,” Olof Gill, the Commission’s trade spokesperson, stated at a Brussels press conference. “Rather than having them increase, we want to decrease or even, where possible, eliminate them.”

The EU’s strategy highlights a delicate balancing act: a clear preference for negotiated solutions coupled with the preparedness to defend its economic interests through robust countermeasures should diplomacy fall short. The upcoming talks will be critical in determining the future trajectory of transatlantic trade relations.