Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU's executive Commission which handles trade policy for the 27 member states, said the bloc would maintain its two-track approach: keep talking and prepare retaliatory measures. This remains the case, and we will use the time that we have now," von der Leyen told a press conference, adding that the bloc would extend its halt on countermeasures until August. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Sunday the EU should be ready to take firm action if talks failed. Anti-coercion instrumentVon der Leyen said on Sunday that the use of the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument was not yet on the table. The instrument allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on EU members to change their policies.