The European Union will be ready for tough negotiations with the United States to protect its own interests against the threat of heightened trade tariffs, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.

The leader of the French Patriots party, Florian Philippot, sharply criticized the statement of the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, about the "special tribunal" for Russia and Vladimir Putin.

Officials need to manage diplomatic negotiations in a more volatile geopolitical environment the Commission President said in reference to a possible trade war between the bloc and the U.S.

In response to European Commission President Ursula that EU and China can find agreements that could even expand trade and investment ties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that as the world faces the risks of bloc-formation,

Brussels hopes simplifying green compliance rules will boost Europe’s flagging economy. Green groups fear something more sinister.

"We will always protect our own interests – however and whenever that is needed," Ursula von der Leyen said after Donald Trump warned tariffs against the EU would happen "pretty soon." View on euronew