Tariffs: Here's the EU's response to Trump: $93 billion counter-tariffs against the US and an opening to Asian markets.

The priority remains to reach an agreement with Washington, but in Brussels the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen will not be caught unprepared for the US offensive on tariffs , which will start on August 1st with customs tariffs on European goods of 30 percent , which would be added to the others already in force for several weeks on steel, aluminum and cars.

The response being prepared by Brussels technicians includes a single list of counter-tariffs worth €93 billion, which would be triggered on August 7th if no agreement is reached with Donald Trump. "The priority is negotiations, but in parallel, preparations for countermeasures continue," explained a spokesperson for the European executive.

Negotiations continue, however: today, European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will again speak by phone with his American counterpart, Howard Lutnick . The United States could offer a 30 to 15 percent reduction in tariffs on EU goods in exchange for preferential treatment for US Big Tech and the pharmaceutical sector . Washington is essentially asking for American tech companies to be excluded from certain provisions of European regulations. This is an issue on which, however, there are differing positions within the European Union: Emmanuel Macron 's France , in particular, is pushing hardest to maintain a firm stance against Donald Trump's trade war.

While awaiting developments on the Washington-Brussels front, Europe is looking elsewhere for other trading partners . The desired axis is with the Asian giants, from India to South Korea , via Japan and China . "We are working to re-establish our partnership with the United States on a more solid foundation. But we also know that 87% of global trade takes place with other countries, many of them seeking stability and opportunity," said Ursula von der Leyen, not coincidentally, upon receiving an honorary degree from Keio University in Tokyo. "Countries from all over the world come to us to do business: from India to Indonesia, from South America to South Korea, from Canada to New Zealand. We are all seeking to forge our strength and independence. Only by working together can we do this," emphasized the President of the EU Commission.

Japan , as announced by Donald Trump, has reached a tariff agreement with his administration that is expected to take effect in August. Tariffs on Japanese goods will be reduced from 25 to 15 percent , including on the crucial automotive sector. In exchange, according to Trump, Japan will invest $550 billion in the United States. There are few details about the deal, which could involve the aviation, energy, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor sectors.