The European Commission has vowed to respond “firmly” to what it describes as “unjustified barriers to free and fair trade,” following U.S. President Donald Trump‘s announcement that he will soon impose a 25% tariff on imports from the European Union.
“The EU will react strongly and immediately against unjustified trade barriers, even when tariffs are used to challenge legitimate and impartial policies,” a Commission spokesperson stated in response to Trump’s comments.
“The European Union is the world’s largest free market. And it has benefited the United States,” the EU official added.
During the first Cabinet meeting at the White House, on Wednesday, February 26, President Trump launched a fresh attack on Europe, revealing plans to introduce a 25% tariff on European goods in the near future.
The tariffs, expected to take effect in early April, will also apply to Canadian and Mexican products.
Although Trump suggested that the tariffs would be imposed “broadly,” he specifically mentioned the automobile industry as one of the first sectors to be affected, according to a report by The Guardian.
Additional tariffs will also target pharmaceuticals and semiconductor chips which are key components in digital devices, ranging from smartphones and computers to household appliances.
There is also a possibility of further tariff increases later this year, a move reportedly designed to give companies an “opportunity” to relocate their operations to the U.S., according to American officials.
