Christine Lagarde, the head of the European Central Bank (ECB), emphasized the need for Europe to assert greater control over its future in light of the potential tariffs imposed by the United States on April 2. Lagarde described this moment as an opportunity for Europe to march towards independence during an interview on France Inter radio. She highlighted the importance of united decision-making to steer towards greater independence in managing Europe's destiny. The upcoming tariff proposal by President Trump, set for announcement on "Liberation Day," could impact Europe through levies on various products. Lagarde criticized Trump's transactional approach in international relations, emphasizing its business-oriented nature. She projected a decrease in Europe's growth by about 0.3 percentage points in the first year of U.S. import tariffs and warned that if Europe retaliates with reciprocal measures, growth could further decline by 0.5 percentage points.