European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has floated the idea of cooperating with Asia to promote rules-based free trade. She says it could serve as the basis for redesigning the World Trade Organization.
Von der Leyen spoke on Thursday after a European Union summit.
She referred to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, describing the key trade pact as “most attractive and interesting.”
She also said Asian nations want structured cooperation with the EU, and the EU “wants the same.”
US President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy and sweeping tariffs have put the global economy at a crossroads.
Von der Leyen’s comments suggest the EU may be seeking to lead a free-trade system that does not include the United States.
But one EU source says she is more likely posturing as a way to gain leverage over the Trump administration.
