EU will respond to Trump’s latest tariff announcement, French foreign minister says
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said France and its European partners should not hesitate to defend their interests in the face of the US tariff threats.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – The European Union will respond to US President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs announcement
Mr Barrot told TF1 television that France and its European partners should not hesitate to defend their interests in the face of the US tariff threats.
Mr Trump said on Feb 9 that he will introduce new 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the US, on top of existing metals duties, in another major escalation of his trade policy overhaul.
Asked if France and the European Union will respond, Mr Barrot said: “Of course... This is already what Donald Trump did in 2018, and we responded. We will, again, respond.”
The European Commission will decide on the sectors that will be affected by a response, he added.
“(The commission) is ready to (pull) the trigger when the time (comes). Now, this time has come. It is in no one’s interest to start a commercial war with the European Union,” he said. REUTERS
