“Further tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and are incompatible with the EU-US trade agreement. We stand ready to defend ourselves, our Member States, our citizens, our companies, against any form of coercion. And the European Union has the power and the tools to do so”. European Council President Antonio Costa said this in his speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg where he addressed a number of issues related to the decisions or threats delivered by the US administration. President Costa stated, among other things, that “long-term security in Europe cannot be upheld through increased investment and cooperation in defence alone. It must be achieved through a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Because Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security. […] Our response has been clear since the first day of Russia’s war of aggression: to provide full support to Ukraine”. And on the trade agreement with Latin American countries, which has both political and economic significance, he said: the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur “sends a powerful message to the world – instead of tariffs, the European Union offers partnerships. Instead of spheres of influence, we are creating spheres of shared prosperity”.