The European Union's trade chief said the 27-member bloc is committed to securing a trade deal with the US based on "respect", not "threats".
According to foreign media, this statement comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on all goods shipped to the US from the EU.
"The EU is fully engaged, committed to securing an agreement that works for both sides," said EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, after a phone call with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
"EU-US trade is incomparable and should be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We are ready to defend our interests," he added, writes A2 CNN.
Earlier on Friday, Trump expressed impatience with the pace of EU-US trade negotiations, saying his plan to raise tariffs on June 1 was set.
Writing on social media, Trump said: "Our discussions with [the EU] are going nowhere," adding that there would be no tariffs on products built or manufactured in the US.
"I'm not looking for a deal - we've made the deal," he told reporters later.
The EU is one of Washington's biggest trading partners, sending more than $600 billion (€528 billion; £443 billion) in goods last year and buying $370 billion worth of goods, US government figures show. (A2 Televizion)
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