The EU will retaliate against tariffs imposed by the US and France.

 

According to the French foreign minister, the European Union will replicate any tariffs imposed on it by the United States, warning Washington against a trade war.

 

"There is no hesitation when it comes to defending our interests," Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with TF1 after US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, February 9, that Washington will move this week to impose 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

 

When asked if France and the European Union would take action against Trump's actions, Barrot replied: 'Of course.' It's not surprising. Donald Trump has already done this during his first term as president in 2018.

 

At that time, we replicated. So we will replicate it again this time," he said.

 

Asked what measures of retaliation would be agreed upon, Barrot replied that it was up to the European Commission to decide which sectors would be targeted.

 

No one has an interest in entering into a trade war with the European Union, he warned.

 

The tariffs on steel and aluminium imports were the latest in a slew of trade levies announced by the US leader that have raised fears of a global trade war.

 

French President Emmanuel Macron told CNN that the EU should not be a "top priority" for the United States after Trump's repeated threats to target the bloc.

 

"Is the European Union your first problem? No, I don't think so. Your first problem is China, so you should focus on the first problem," he said, adding that the EU must be ready to react to US actions.