The European Union warned of a strong and proportionate response after President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, escalating concerns about a trade war.
Trump signed orders on Monday raising U.S. tariffs on aluminum to 25% from 10%, eliminating country-specific exemptions and quota agreements, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in tariff exemptions for specific products for both metals.
The measures will take effect on March 4, a White House official confirmed. The tariffs will apply to millions of tons of aluminum and steel imports from Canada, Mexico, South Korea and other countries that had previously entered the US duty-free.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she deeply regretted the US decision, saying the tariffs would hurt businesses and even more consumers. Over the past decade, the EU has exported 3 billion euros of steel a year.
"Unjustified tariffs will not go unanswered. They will be accompanied by determined and proportionate countermeasures. The EU will act to protect its interests," said Ursula Von Der Leyen, writes A2 CNN.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also told Parliament on Tuesday that the EU would react unanimously to the US measures.
"As the world's largest market, with 450 million citizens, we have the power to do something like this," Scholz said. While details have not yet been given on what the EU's response might be, one option would be to reactivate tariffs that the bloc imposed in 2018 and that were suspended on the basis of an agreement agreed between Von Der Leyen and then-president Joe Biden, writes A2 CNN.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also called the tariffs unacceptable and warned of retaliation. When asked earlier about the possibility of measures that countries could take in response to the new tariffs, Trump said he was not interested.
(A2 Televizion)
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