EU retaliation to US tariffs could extend 'beyond customs duties'
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France's finance minister announces that the European Union could take measures against the US other than tariffs.
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French Finance Minister Eric Lombard arrives for a round table meeting of EU finance ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. (AP)
The European Union's retaliation to the newly-imposed 20% tariff by the United States on the bloc, may not be limited to reciprocal duties on American imports, French Economy Minister Eric Lombard said on Friday.
"We are working on a response package that could indeed go beyond customs duties to bring the Americans to the negotiating table and reach a balanced agreement..." Lombard told RMC Radio on Friday, adding that the EU's response can be firm without mirroring the US approach., as tariffs on imports from the US could harm the bloc.
The minister called on French companies to demonstrate solidarity and patriotism in the face of the US measures while stressing that Europe must stand its ground against global powers "because we are now in a period of confrontation against the planet’s major blocs: the US, Russia and China. Europe has what it takes to rise to the occasion, but it requires effort."
Previously on Thursday, French President Emmanuelle Macron urged national companies to halt any investments in the US until greater clarity emerges regarding the specifics of US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs, as the world prepares to go to a trade war with the US over its tariff bombardment policy.
Trump tariffs fueling a global trade war
China announced on April 4 that it intends to impose a 34% tariff that matches the reciprocal tariff rate imposed by Trump on Beijing, in addition to economic restrictions that include barring exports of certain rare earth metals to the US.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused the US of abandoning its traditional leadership role in global economic cooperation, stating, “The global economy is no longer the same as it was yesterday,” while unveiling a limited set of countermeasures on April 3.
The European Union has also promised to respond, with French President Emmanuelle Macron calling on European countries to halt their investments in the United States.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously asserted on March 31 that the EU would unite against Trump should he refuse to cooperate with the bloc.
Rising US tariff actions risk triggering a significant global trade downturn, World Trade Organization Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned on April 3 amid growing demands from member nations for explanations regarding the implications of America's changing economic policies.
"The impact on global trade prospects and economic growth is becoming increasingly clear," Okonjo-Iweala stated warning that relatiatory tariffs could spiral into a bigger tariff war.
The United States' sweeping imposition of tariffs is set to have far-reaching effects on global trade, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on April 3 in his telegram channel, adding that "Old trade chains will be broken, but new ones will arise."
