The European Union is gearing up to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest announcement of new steel and aluminum tariffs, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed on Monday.
Speaking to TF1 television, Barrot emphasized that France and its European partners must steadfastly defend their interests against the U.S. trade threats. \"Of course … This is already what Donald Trump did in 2018, and we responded. We will again respond,\" Barrot stated.
Trump’s decision to impose an additional 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports marks a significant escalation in his trade policy, building on existing metal duties. In response, Barrot indicated that the European Commission is poised to identify the sectors that will be impacted by the EU's countermeasures.
\"It (the Commission) is ready to push the trigger when the time has come. Now, this time has come. It is in no one's interest to start a commercial war with the European Union,\" Barrot added.
Meanwhile, the European Commission announced that it had \"not received any official notification\" regarding the new U.S. duties. The Commission also clarified, \"We will not respond to broad announcements without details or written clarification. The EU sees no justification for the imposition of tariffs on its exports. We will react to protect the interests of European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified measures.\"
The ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and the EU reflect broader concerns over fair trade practices and economic policies, with both sides preparing for potential retaliatory actions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
