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EU ‘prepared to barter’ with US with provide of zero tariffs on industrial items, however planning easy methods to defend pursuits, von der Leyen says
As we look forward to the press convention after the ministerial assembly, European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen shared her views on US tariffs, as she welcomed Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre to Brussels.
She stated that the US tariffs “come … at immense prices for US shoppers and companies,” as she insisted the EU “stand prepared to barter with the USA.”
“Europe is all the time prepared for whole lot. So we maintain it on the desk,” she stated, including the EU “provided zero for zero tariffs for industrial items, … as a result of Europe is all the time prepared for whole lot.”
However she added the EU was “additionally ready to reply by means of countermeasures and defend our pursuits,” because it regarded to step up its safety towards “oblique results [of] commerce diversion.”
Von der Leyen stated she engaged with key industrial stakeholders throughout the bloc to seek the advice of on subsequent steps.
She additionally burdened that the EU ought to work on “strengthening our single market [by] eliminating remaining obstacles” in response to tariff disruptions.
Key occasions
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New US tariffs ‘drive’ EU to look to reply
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EU in ‘early levels’ talks with US, however finalising record of countermeasures after metal and aluminium tariffs
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EU commerce with US ‘in robust spot,’ EU commerce commissioner says
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EU ‘prepared to barter’ with US with provide of zero tariffs on industrial items, however planning easy methods to defend pursuits, von der Leyen says
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Marine Le Pen ruling is gasoline for the worldwide proper’s assaults on court docket authority – evaluation
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‘Eat, sleep and social gathering’: a style of La Dolce Vita aboard Italy’s Orient Categorical
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1000’s in Spain be a part of nationwide march to protest towards housing disaster
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Le Pen vows to battle ‘political’ ruling, as France’s most important events stage rival rallies
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‘Very aggressive and arbitrary’ US tariffs want united EU response, French minister says
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‘Is the US up for deal?,’ Eire’s Harris asks
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Market turmoil ‘actual indication of ache’ brought on by tariffs, Eire’s Harris says, as he dismisses requires measures towards US tech
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US tariffs calculations are ‘nonsense’, German economic system minister says
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‘All choices on desk proper now’ on countermeasures, Swedish commerce minister says
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Talks on easy methods to place Europe in response to ‘paradigm shift’ in international commerce, EU commissioner says
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No tariffs like these for 100 years, Polish deputy economic system minister says
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Germany’s Merz needs to ‘restore competitiveness’ as he fears additional deterioration on markets
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Markets recording sharp falls throughout Europe
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No talks with Europe ‘except they pay us some huge cash on yearly foundation’, Trump says
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Spain to push for EU assist for industries hit by tariffs, minister says
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We’d like ‘calm, measured response’, Eire’s minister says
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Morning opening: Overlook markets for a second
New US tariffs ‘drive’ EU to look to reply
Šefčovič says that whereas the main focus up to now has been on finalising metal and aluminium countermeasures, the announcement of the brand new “so-called reciprocal tariffs … forces us to take a look at extra steps.”
“We received some precious enter from the member states, from the ministers, which we after all, consider, and we are going to proceed, as all the time, within the shut consultations with our member states and with the important thing stakeholders,” he says.
EU in ‘early levels’ talks with US, however finalising record of countermeasures after metal and aluminium tariffs
Šefčovič says the EU is “in early levels of discussions” with the US, difficult “as a result of the US view tariffs not as a tactical step, however as a corrective measure.”
However he says that “ whereas the EU stays open to and strongly prefers negotiations, we is not going to weigh endlessly till we see tangible progress.”
The EU has ready a “strong record of countermeasures” on metal and aluminium after receiving suggestions from over 600 stakeholders.
“After rigorously reviewing all of it, we’ve got labored to desk a sturdy record of countermeasures, whereas balancing the burden throughout all member states, we will likely be sending the ultimate record and tariff ranges to them later at the moment,
The vote is about for 9 April, with the ultimate record adopted on 15 April, after which duties on merchandise will kick in on that day for the primary set of measures, and on 15 Could for the remaining ones.”
EU commerce with US ‘in robust spot,’ EU commerce commissioner says
EU commerce commissioner Maroš Šefčovič says that the EU’s commerce scenario with the US is “in a troublesome spot.”
He says that “70% of our complete exports are dealing with tariffs of 20% of 25% and even larger.”
He acknowledges current conferences along with his US counterparts, as he says the 2 sides agree that “the EU-US commerce relationship may gain advantage from a recent look and a lift in strategic areas,” noting each markets “face related challenges.”
He repeats von der Leyen’s remark from final half hour that the EU “we’ve got provided zero for zero tariffs for automobiles and all industrial items.”
Opening the briefing after the ministerial council on commerce, Polish deputy economic system minister Michał Baranowski says “the message that got here out from the council is very a lot a message of unity.”
“It’s very clear that there are not any winners, and this was one thing that was emphasised by all of the member states. All of us would like a negotiated resolution that takes us away from the potential commerce battle that may result in a lack of jobs, result in lack of wealth,” he says.
He says that the EU has a “ready response” on metal and aluminium which will likely be put ahead “quickly”, however burdened that, in the meanwhile the bloc just isn’t specializing in “the so referred to as reciprocal tariffs.”
He says he describes them as “so calls reciprocal tariffs” as “the methodology utilized by the US aspect just isn’t but totally clear to us.”
EU ‘prepared to barter’ with US with provide of zero tariffs on industrial items, however planning easy methods to defend pursuits, von der Leyen says
As we look forward to the press convention after the ministerial assembly, European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen shared her views on US tariffs, as she welcomed Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre to Brussels.
She stated that the US tariffs “come … at immense prices for US shoppers and companies,” as she insisted the EU “stand prepared to barter with the USA.”
“Europe is all the time prepared for whole lot. So we maintain it on the desk,” she stated, including the EU “provided zero for zero tariffs for industrial items, … as a result of Europe is all the time prepared for whole lot.”
However she added the EU was “additionally ready to reply by means of countermeasures and defend our pursuits,” because it regarded to step up its safety towards “oblique results [of] commerce diversion.”
Von der Leyen stated she engaged with key industrial stakeholders throughout the bloc to seek the advice of on subsequent steps.
She additionally burdened that the EU ought to work on “strengthening our single market [by] eliminating remaining obstacles” in response to tariff disruptions.
Marine Le Pen ruling is gasoline for the worldwide proper’s assaults on court docket authority – evaluation

Ashifa Kassam
À propos Le Pen’s conviction in French courts and linked protests I reported on earlier at the moment, my colleague Ashifa Kassam checked out how the ruling on this case proved to be gasoline for the worldwide proper’s assaults on court docket authority.
The three-word message, launched minutes after the decision got here in, was succinct in its solidarity. “Je suis Marine!” Hungary’s Viktor Orbán posted on social media after Le Pen was discovered responsible of embezzling European parliament funds and barred instantly from working for public workplace.
Messages quickly got here tumbling in from Brazil to Belgium, hinting at how rightwing nationalist and populist leaders had seized on the ruling to push their very own narrative.
Most of them paid little heed to the judges’ discovering of the important thing position Le Pen and greater than two dozen others had performed in a rip-off that prosecutors alleged had diverted greater than €4m (£3.4m) of European parliament funds to profit the social gathering.
As France reeled from the political upheaval, opponents of liberal democracy jumped on the likelihood to hawk their claims that some justice techniques are getting used as a blunt software to silence the desire of the folks.
Authorized consultants pushed again towards the claims. “The choice is extraordinarily properly reasoned, the court docket handed down a judgment that appears to me implacable on its deserves and with none actual doable dispute,” stated Mathieu Carpentier, a legislation professor at Toulouse Capitole College, citing the greater than 150-page ruling delivered by the three judges.
“If Madame Le Pen had not damaged the legislation, she wouldn’t have been convicted.”
It was a degree that leaders in nations such because the US, Russia and Hungary – all of whom have confronted accusations of undermining their nation’s judiciary – had been seemingly content material to miss.
Full story:

Jakub Krupa
Simply an replace on timings: the press convention after the EU’s commerce ministerial assembly is now scheduled for 3.15pm CEST.
I’ll deliver you all the important thing updates right here when it occurs.
‘Eat, sleep and social gathering’: a style of La Dolce Vita aboard Italy’s Orient Categorical
Angela Giuffrida
And now for one thing really magical: a reproduction of the world-famous Orient Categorical made its debut journey from Rome on Friday, transporting well-heeled passengers into the center of Tuscany’s wine area.
La Dolce Vita Orient Categorical, the primary Italian-made luxurious prepare, is aimed toward reviving the glamour of the basic model in addition to the romanticised notion of Italy’s dolce vita, or “candy life”, all of the whereas selling gradual tourism.
The prepare, the primary of a fleet of six, is made up of 12 refurbished carriages that when chugged alongside Italian rail tracks within the Nineteen Sixties and which have been decked out with 18 suites, 12 deluxe cabins, a bar, a lounge and a restaurant serving haute delicacies by the Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck.
The itinerary is one in every of eight that collectively cowl 14 Italian areas, from Veneto and Liguria within the north to Basilicata and Sicily within the south. On Friday afternoon passengers travelled alongside the coast, passing the seaside cities of Santa Severa and Santa Marinella earlier than gliding by means of the countryside of Tuscan, the place by early night they might sip regionally made Brunello wine as a part of the aperitivo.
As an possibility, they might disembark and be taken to the hilltop city of Montalcino earlier than returning to the Dolce Vita for his or her night meal and leisure. The prepare, which additionally passes by means of Florence and Pisa, completes its loop again to Rome on Saturday morning.
Full story:
1000’s in Spain be a part of nationwide march to protest towards housing disaster
Stephen Burgen
Tens of 1000’s of individuals have taken to the streets of Spain over the weekend within the newest protest towards housing hypothesis and to demand entry to inexpensive properties.
Organisers declare that as much as 150,000 joined the protest in Madrid whereas smaller demonstrations had been held in about 40 cities throughout the nation. Protesters from Málaga on the Costa del Sol to Vigo within the Atlantic northwest chanted “finish the housing racket” and “landlords are responsible, the federal government is accountable”.
Valeria Racu, a spokesperson for the Madrid tenants’ union, referred to as for hire strikes equivalent to these mounted not too long ago in some Catalan coastal cities.
The union says 1.4m Spanish households spend greater than 30% of their earnings on housing, 200,000 households greater than 10 years in the past.
Housing has develop into the primary social challenge in Spain as a mix of property hypothesis and vacationer flats have pushed the price of rented housing past the attain of all however probably the most rich.
Full story:
Le Pen vows to battle ‘political’ ruling, as France’s most important events stage rival rallies

Jon Henley
The French far-right chief Marine Le Pen has informed supporters in Paris on Sunday she would battle “a political, not a judicial ruling” that would bar her from the following presidential election, as a rival rally denounced an “existential menace” to the rule of legislation after her conviction for embezzling public funds.
Talking from a short lived stage in entrance of the Hôtel des Invalides with the social gathering’s 120 members of parliament behind her, Le Pen stated she would “not surrender” and was the sufferer of a “witch-hunt.”
However talking at a leftwing rally just a few kilometres away on the Place de la République, the Inexperienced social gathering chief, Marine Tondelier, stated Le Pen’s defence amounted to “a complete conspiracy concept” and a full-blown assault on judicial independence.
Police stated 7,000 folks had been on the RN rally – a number of thousand fewer than the social gathering had hoped for – and about 5,000 on the leftwing rival.
The three-time presidential candidate and frontrunner to succeed Emmanuel Macron was discovered responsible on Monday of embezzling greater than €4m (£3.4m) of European parliament funds to pay RN social gathering employees in France by means of an unlimited faux jobs rip-off.
The Paris appeals court docket has stated it is going to ship a verdict on her case by subsequent summer time, doubtlessly permitting her to contest the 2027 presidential race if her conviction is overturned, which is seen as unlikely, or the ban on working for public workplace lifted.
The ruling, which adopted a 10-year investigation and a nine-week trial, has dramatically shaken up the political panorama and been fiercely attacked by far-right politicians in France and past as politically motivated and anti-democratic.
Full story:

Jakub Krupa
Because the ministerial talks proceed behind the closed doorways, let’s check out different occasions throughout Europe.
‘Very aggressive and arbitrary’ US tariffs want united EU response, French minister says
French minister delegate for commerce Laurent Saint-Martin additionally criticises “very aggressive and arbitrary” commerce measures adopted by US president Donald Trump as he says France “prefers cooperation to confrontation.”
“Our finish purpose stays the identical, to barter this escalation and negotiate again to the place issues had been, and if it’s not doable, after all, European Union should react, should react firmly and should react proportionately,” he says.
He additionally stresses the necessity for Europe to stay united.
‘Is the US up for deal?,’ Eire’s Harris asks
Eire’s Harris continues:
“This can be a buying and selling relationship that issues, and Europe has been very clear: we’re up for a deal.
President von der Leyen has talked about wanting to handle any of the commerce obstacles that exist, wanting to purchase extra stuff from the USA and vice versa. We’re up for a deal.
I suppose the excellent query is, is the USA up for one?”
Market turmoil ‘actual indication of ache’ brought on by tariffs, Eire’s Harris says, as he dismisses requires measures towards US tech
Irish international and commerce minister Simon Harris says that it’s “changing into abundantly clear now to anyone who was beneath any phantasm in relation to that is that tariffs are actually dangerous” for the US, for Europe and for Eire.
“We have to discover a negotiated means ahead,” he says, calling for a “de-escalation.”
“I feel the turmoil being seen in international inventory markets and international markets is an actual indication of the ache that tariffs are inflicting and can trigger, not simply to economies in some form of macro sense, but additionally to particular person residents in Europe and particular person folks in the USA of America,” he says.
Harris additionally very pointedly rejects requires measures focusing on US tech and digital companies.
He says that “in the event you had been to get into that area, it will be a unprecedented escalation at a time once we have to be working for a de-escalation.”
“The European Fee, and I imagine the overwhelming majority of member states [do not want] to get into tit for tat, it’s to not settle for that the place we are actually is the inevitable final result, and really search to interact and I actually assume economics is on our aspect right here,” he says.
He provides that he’ll journey to Washington for additional talks with US representatives on Tuesday.
Habeck additionally repeatedly warns towards particular person nations’ pursuits overshadowing the necessity for a united EU response.
He says:
“The inventory markets are already collapsing and the injury might develop into even better. It’s due to this fact essential … to behave clearly and decisively and prudently, which implies realising that we’re in a powerful place. America is ready of weak point …
If each nation is counted individually, and we’ve got an issue right here with crimson wine and there with whisky and pistachios, then it is going to all come to nothing.”