European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday night expressed deep regrets about the United States' decision to impose tariffs on imported European cars.

Von der Leyen's remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to levy a 25-percent tariff on car imports starting April 2.

"The automotive industry is a driver of innovation, competitiveness and high-quality jobs, with deeply integrated supply chains on both sides of the Atlantic," von der Leyen said in a statement.

She added that tariffs "are bad for businesses, worse for consumers" in both the United States and the European Union (EU).

"We will now assess this announcement, together with other measures the U.S. is envisaging in the coming days," she said, noting the bloc would continue to seek negotiated solutions while protecting its economic interests.