BRUSSELS, July 3 (Xinhua) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that the European Union (EU) is "ready for a deal" with the United States to resolve ongoing tariff disputes. However, she emphasized that the bloc is also preparing for the possibility of no satisfactory agreement being reached to defend Europe's interests.

Von der Leyen made the remarks during a visit to Aarhus. Noting that the deadline is July 9, she pointed out that trade between the EU and the United States amounts to 1.5 trillion euros (1.77 trillion U.S. dollars). "It's a huge task," she was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Commission.

Emphasizing that the goal is to reach "an agreement in principle," von der Leyen acknowledged that it would be impossible to finalize a detailed deal within such a timeframe due to the vast scale of trade between the two sides.

She warned that if the talks fail, the EU would not hesitate to implement retaliatory measures. "We want a negotiated solution," she said, "But you all know that at the same time, we are preparing for the possibility that no satisfactory agreement is reached."

"All the instruments are on the table," She added.

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic is currently in Washington, holding discussions with U.S. trade representatives in an effort to secure a deal.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also urged both sides to strike "a quick and simple agreement," stressing such a deal is vital for key sectors, including pharmaceuticals, engineering, and automotive manufacturing.

Currently, the United States imposes a 25 percent tariff on EU cars and auto parts, and a 50 percent tariff on steel and aluminum products. The United States is also considering expanding tariffs to cover timber, aerospace components, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars) ■