The European Union will have a "pragmatic" attitude towards the new administration of Donald Trump but "always" stand ready to defend its strategic interests against any unjustified measure, Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday in a speech that set the tone for how Brussels intends to engage with Washington in the next four years.

The US president had previously threatened to introduce tariffs on European imports, which was not exactly well received by European leaders and politicians.

The European Union wants to engage and negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday, warning of the risk of a "global race to the bottom" using tools such as tariffs.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday of an escalating economic conflict with the new US administration under Donald Trump. "No other economies in the world are as integrated as we are,

Europe has entered a new era of harsh geostrategic competition and will have to work together to avoid a global race to the bottom, European Commission President

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday of the risk of a 'global race to the bottom' using economic tools such as sanctions, export controls and tariffs. Speaking at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting a day after the inauguration of U.