European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that “Europe is ready to respond” to the tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. China echoed that position, promising “strong countermeasures.”

On April 2, Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports into the United States. The rate for China will be 34%, for the European Union 20%, for Japan 24%, and for India 26%.

Von der Leyen described the U.S. actions as a “serious blow,” saying Europe is prepared to retaliate.

“Universal tariffs announced by the U.S. deliver a serious blow to businesses and consumers around the world. Europe is ready to respond. We will always defend our interests and values. We are also open to cooperation. And to shift from confrontation to negotiations,” she wrote on X.

Speaking to reporters, von der Leyen said she shared Trump’s view that some countries benefit “unfairly” due to flaws in the global trade system. However, she believes the new tariffs will not help “fix” the system.

She noted that the European Union is finalizing its response to the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum and is preparing further steps “to protect its interests and businesses if negotiations break down.”

China has also announced that it is preparing “strong countermeasures” in response to Washington’s tariff actions, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

“China strongly opposes this. We will firmly take countermeasures to protect our own rights and interests,” the ministry stated.

According to the ministry, the tariffs imposed by the U.S., “based on subjective and unilateral assessments,” violate international trade rules, harm the legal rights and interests of the affected parties, and “constitute a typical act of unilateral intimidation.”

China called on the United States to “immediately cancel” the tariff measures and “properly resolve disputes with its trade partners through equal dialogue.”