EU has ‘strong plan’ to derail Trump’s tariffs

The European Union has a “strong plan” to respond if Donald Trump goes ahead with tariff hikes, although negotiations remain preferable, Ursula von der Leyen has said.

Since returning to the White House, the U.S. president has pursued an aggressive trade policy, imposing tariffs on numerous countries. Most recently, Trump announced new tariffs on imported cars.

Speaking on Tuesday, von der Leyen, the European Commission president, warned that the next industries likely to be targeted by Washington include semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and timber.

"Europe has not started this confrontation. We do not necessarily want to retaliate, but if it is necessary, we have a strong plan to retaliate, and we will use it," she explained.

Following Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum, the EU announced countermeasures targeting products such as jeans and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Several European countries fear the consequences of an escalating trade war, particularly France, where the wine and spirits industry could suffer major losses.

(QG - Source: Newsweek - Picture : © Unsplash)