“The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, noted a “positive side effect” of the economic uncertainty created by the tariffs imposed by the United States. She stated that “more world leaders are looking to strike trade deals with the EU,” writes Politico.
“Currently, we have numerous discussions with heads of state and government from around the world who want to work together with us on the new order,” von der Leyen said in an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit on Tuesday.
“Everyone is asking for more trade with Europe – and it’s not just about economic ties. It’s also about establishing common rules and predictability,” she said, adding that “Europe can offer this.”
Since Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on April 2nd, a wave of uncertainty has swept the transatlantic trade, shaking markets and casting doubt on the future of economic cooperation between the European Union and the United States. In response, the EU has sought new ways to diversify its trade partnerships and explored opportunities to deepen ties with other major economies such as China.
According to the Commission President, Europe has “woken up” and has the opportunity to play “a strong role in the slowly emerging new world order.”
“Now we must use this momentum to open up new markets for our companies and establish a close relationship with many countries that share our interests,” she said.”