This article is an on-site version of our Europe Express newsletter. Premium subscribers can sign up here<\/a> to get the newsletter delivered every weekday and fortnightly on Saturday morning. Standard subscribers can upgrade to Premium here<\/a>, or explore<\/a> all FT newsletters<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Good morning. News to start: The EU is refusing to sign<\/a> a joint declaration on climate proposed by China at a planned summit this month, unless Beijing pledges greater efforts to cut its emissions. <\/p>\n Today, my colleagues report on the internal EU divisions over how to respond to Donald Trump\u2019s trade demands as his deadline for a deal looms, and I explain why Ursula von der Leyen will win a no-confidence vote in parliament this week but is slowly losing the chamber\u2019s long-term support.<\/p>\n The EU faces a key choice this week between swallowing higher tariffs to avoid a full-blown trade war with Washington, or retaliating to put pressure on the US to compromise, write <\/strong><\/em>Barbara Moens<\/strong><\/em><\/a> and <\/strong><\/em>Andy Bounds<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Context: Wednesday is the threatened deadline for a trade deal between the two trading giants, following almost three months of negotiations to avert Donald Trump\u2019s threatened 50 per cent tariffs<\/a> on goods from the EU next week.<\/p>\n Yesterday, US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent warned<\/a> that US tariffs on imports from some countries will \u201cboomerang\u201d back to the steep levels set by Trump in April unless they quickly offer concessions and strike deals with Washington.<\/p>\n Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, reached out to European leaders over the weekend to get guidance on whether she should accept a deal with some higher tariffs, which many favour, or raise the pressure on the US. The commission leads the trade negotiations on behalf of the bloc.<\/p>\n Last week, von der Leyen said<\/a> she hoped for an agreement in principle that would allow the sides to keep negotiating a final deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n With time running out, the bloc is still divided on the best strategy to deal with Trump. A number of countries, especially those that rely heavily on exports such as Ireland, Germany or Hungary, are in favour of a swift deal.<\/p>\n While the two sides talk, so-called sectoral tariffs of 25 per cent for cars and car parts, and 50 per cent for steel and aluminium, remain in place, as well as a 10 per cent tariff on most other imports.<\/p>\n German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is under pressure from German industry suffering from the measures, said last week that \u201cit is better to reach a quick and simple solution than a long and complicated agreement that remains on the negotiating table for months\u201d.<\/p>\n Other countries, including France and Spain, are sceptical about accepting a deal just for the sake of it. <\/p>\n They argue that the EU, with its 450mn consumers, should have the economic self-confidence to stand up to Trump and use its trade defence arsenal to hit back if Washington refuses to strike a fair deal.<\/p>\nTrade-off<\/h3>\n
Chart du jour: Looming crisis<\/h2>\n