The European Union on Sunday issued a strong warning to US President Donald Trump, pledging a firm response if he moves forward with imposing tariffs on EU goods. This marks the latest escalation in global frustration with his trade policies.

The warning follows Trump’s statement on Friday, where he confirmed his intention to impose tariffs on EU imports, adding to those already planned for Canada, Mexico, and China.

The European Commission, the EU’s governing body, expressed its disappointment with Trump’s decision and is preparing to discuss potential retaliatory measures at a trade ministers’ meeting in Warsaw on Tuesday.

A European Commission spokesperson emphasised that the EU’s trade and investment relationship with the US is the largest globally, highlighting the significant stakes involved. The spokesperson argued that tariffs cause unnecessary economic disruption and contribute to inflation, which negatively impacts all parties involved.

The EU representative also stated that the EU would take strong measures against any trading partner that unfairly or unjustly imposes tariffs on European products.

The spokesperson said that as of now, they are not aware of any additional tariffs being imposed on EU products.

He added that the the 27-member European Union continues to support low tariffs as a means of fostering growth and ensuring economic stability within a robust, rules-driven trading framework.

The spokesperson said that there is a lot at stake and that both US and EU should be working towards strengthening their relationship.

(With Agency Inputs)