Ursula von der Leyen Photo: screenshot from the video
In light of the new US customs policy promoted by Donald Trump, more and more countries are turning to the European Union as a stable and predictable partner. This was stated by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in a commentary to Politico.
“In an increasingly unpredictable global environment, countries are lining up to cooperate with us. In the midst of the chaos, Europe is standing firm on its feet, grounded in values, and ready to shape what comes next,”said von der Leyen.
According to her, after Washington announced large-scale duties on imports of goods – in particular, a basic tariff of 10% for most countries and 20% for the EU – states are looking for new trade unions. “This says something. In the midst of chaos, Europe is standing firm on its feet, based on values, and is ready to shape what comes next,” the European Commissioner added.
She particularly emphasised the profound transformations in the world order – the most extensive since the end of the Cold War. It is in this context, she said, that Europe is emerging as a reliable island of stability and partnership.
In recent weeks, von der Leyen has held a series of talks with the leaders of Iceland, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Canada, India and the United Arab Emirates – countries that have shown interest in partnering with the EU amid a changing geo-economic picture.
Against this backdrop, the European Union has already agreed on the European Commission’s proposal to introduce trade countermeasures in response to the US actions. At the same time, a few days after his harsh statements, Trump announced a 90-day “pause” in the introduction of new tariffs. However, analysts point out that this step looks more like a political manoeuvre than a change of course.
These developments once again demonstrate how customs policy can become an instrument of global influence and confirm Europe’s growing role as a stabilising force in a changing geopolitical world.
