The European Union will react "firmly and immediately" to "unjustified" tariffs, the European Commission said in response to US President Donald Trump's statements.

The European Commission views President Trump's proposed policy of "reciprocal" tariffs as "a step in the wrong direction," the statement said. 

On 13 February, Trump promised to impose "reciprocal tariffs" to restore "fairness" in trade relations between the US and the rest of the world.

"If they impose tariffs or tax on us, we impose the exact same level of tariff or tax on them, it's that simple," Donald Trump said from the White House.

But for the European Commission, these "taxes" have "no justification", even though the EU has "some of the lowest tariffs in the world".

By imposing these tariffs, the United States is "taxing its own citizens, increasing the costs of its companies, slowing growth and fuelling inflation", it believes.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had already promised a 'tough' response to the steel and aluminium tariffs announced by the US President. 

"The unjustified tariffs imposed on the EU will not go unanswered: they will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures," she said. | BGNES