WASHINGTON (TNND) — In recent days, President Donald Trump has downplayed the importance of needing to strike deals with the trading partners he's hit with double-digit tariffs, arguing they need the U.S. market more than the U.S. needs them. But he's not the only one with a say in how this trade war unfolds.

On Thursday, the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, announced it took two major steps toward readying countermeasures if the bloc and the Trump administration do not reach "a mutually beneficial outcome and the removal of the US tariffs," which amount to Trump's 20% across-the-board tariffs, plus 25% tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum.

The commission unveiled a list of €95 billion, or $107 billion worth of American goods, it is prepared to subject to additional import taxes. The list includes American-made wine, beer, spirits, meats, machinery and a variety of electronics. The commission will solicit public consultation on the list of U.S. imports until June 10.

In a statement, the commission said its priority is reaching a deal with the U.S. through negotiations, which it said were ongoing "both at a political and technical level."

The EU will also launch a dispute against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization by formally requesting consultations.

"It is the unequivocal view of the EU that these tariffs blatantly violate fundamental WTO rules. The EU's objective is thus to reaffirm that internationally agreed rules matter, and these cannot be unilaterally disregarded by any WTO member, including the US," the European Commission said in a statement.

Shortly after the EU released its countermeasure plans, Trump was asked by a reporter in the Oval Office if he had plans to meet with the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

"She's so fantastic. I hope we're gonna meet. The answer is yes," Trump said.

In the past, Trump has claimed the EU was formed to "screw" the United States.

In 2024, U.S. trade with the EU totaled about $976 billion, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The U.S exported $370 billion to the EU, compared to $605 billion worth of goods imported from EU countries, creating a $235 billion trade deficit.

Trump has said that in a matter of weeks, he'll begin unilaterally setting the terms of trade with other countries.

“And they’ll either say, ‘great’ and they’ll start shopping," Trump said. "Or, they’ll say, ‘Not good, we’re not gonna do it.’ And I’ll say, ‘That’s OK, you don’t have to shop.'"