‘We will respond’ EU prepares to STRIKE BACK as Trump’s steel war hits bloc ‘very hard’
THE United States’ proposals to slap tariffs on steel imports is hitting Brussels “very hard”, the EU’s trade commissioner has warned.
By KATIE MANSFIELD
Express.co.uk
Wed, Jun 21, 2017
US President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into curbing steel imports amid “national security” fears in April.
Washington is expected to decide whether to impose tariffs this week.
The investigation has mainly been aimed at cheap imports from China but has sparked concern from European steel exporters who worry they will be targeted by the US crackdown.
The EU’s trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström says Brussels “will need to respond” if Mr Trump decides to impose tariffs on steel from the EU, China and other countries.
She told Politico: “We should be very, very clear …. [that] this is hitting the European Union very, very hard.”
Ms Malmström said the EU will have to analyse Washington’s decision before deciding what action to take.
She said: “We will have to respond in different means.”
The trade commissioner said the EU shares Mr Trump’s concerns regarding overcapacity in China.
She warned US tariffs are “maybe not targeted vis-à-vis Europe, but it will hit us very hard.”
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