DONALD Trump’s decision to slap tariffs on steel and aluminium imports threatens economic stability and international peace, according to leaders outraged with Washington’s plans.
Emmanuel Macron said he told the US president in a phone call the 25% tariffs on imported steel and 10% tariffs on aluminium for European, Mexican and Canadian goods are illegal and a “mistake”.
The French president warned: “Economic nationalism leads to war. This is exactly what happened in the 1930s.”
Macron pledged a retaliatory price hike would be firm, proportionate and comply with World Trade Organisation rules.
Germany’s Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, warned that the decision could start a trade war that no side would win. The EU and China also said they will deepen ties on trade and investment as a result of the announcement.
EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the tariffs are “further weakening the Trans-Atlantic relations”.
Malmstrom argued the measures “will cause a lot of damage to our steel and aluminium industry”. She dismissed notions that the tariffs were needed for US national security, saying: “Internal security is not relevant. It is pure protectionism.”
Mexico complained that the tariffs will “distort international trade” while Canadian leader Justin Trudeau said the tariffs were “totally unacceptable”.
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