European Union Will Retaliate Against New US Tariffs – France

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has warned that the European Union will respond in kind to any tariffs imposed by the United States, cautioning Washington against triggering a trade war.

President Trump said on Sunday that he will introduce new 25 percent 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.

“There is no hesitation when it comes to defending our interests,” Barrot told TF1 in an interview on Monday, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports.

When asked if France and the EU would retaliate, Barrot confirmed, “Of course. This is not a surprise. Trump did the same in 2018, and we responded then. We will do the same now.”

The European Commission will determine which sectors to target in response, Barrot added, emphasizing that “no one benefits from a trade war with the EU.”

Trump’s latest tariffs have raised concerns about a global trade conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, telling CNN that the EU should not be the US’s primary target.

“Is the European Union your biggest problem? No, I don’t think so. Your first problem is China, so focus on that,” Macron stated, urging the EU to be prepared to counter US trade measures.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said last week the EU would "respond firmly" if targeted unfairly or arbitrarily. Here is the EU's possible course of action.

In 2018, after Trump imposed tariffs on 6.4 billion euros of EU steel and aluminium imports, the EU responded with its own duties on 2.8 billion euros of U.S. products. Tariffs on a further 3.6 billion euros of U.S. imports were due to take effect three years later, but were not imposed after Joe Biden became U.S. president and the two sides agreed on a treaty.