Acting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Europe wants to cooperate with the US, but the European Union is ready to respond with a united front to American tariffs.
The head of government noted that trade wars are detrimental to all countries. He also said that Europe "is not naive and weak".
"That is why I say to the US: Europe's goal remains cooperation. "But if the US leaves us no choice, as in the case of steel and aluminium tariffs, we as the EU will react as one," Scholz said at the opening of the Hanover trade fair, quoted by Reuters.
On February 10, US President Donald Trump ordered the introduction of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports. The decision, which took effect on March 12, applies to shipments from Australia, Argentina, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the EU, Canada, Mexico, South Korea and Japan.
On March 4, the US administration imposed a 25% tariff on almost all imports from Canada and Mexico, and also raised tariffs on goods from China from 10% to 20%.
On March 6, Trump signed executive orders to postpone until April 2 the imposition of 25% import duties on goods from Canada and Mexico that fall under the trilateral trade agreement.
He warned that there would be no further easing after that date.