China could win big from transatlantic trade war, EU leaders warn Trump
Bloc says it would respond firmly to any arbitrary imposition of tariffs on European goods
EU leaders have pledged to hit back if US President Donald Trump follows through on repeated threats to slap tariffs on European Union goods, saying that China would be the big winner from a transatlantic trade war.
Trump said on Sunday that tariffs would “definitely happen with the European Union, I can tell you that”, adding that “I wouldn’t say there’s a timeline but it’s going to be pretty soon”.
Arriving at a summit to discuss European defence in Brussels on Monday, national leaders were inundated with questions on how the European Union would respond, with many vowing to punch back.
“It always would be good, both for the US and for Europe, if we cooperate … but what is clear is the basis for talking is knowing one’s own strength: Europe can act,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that if Europe was “attacked on trade issues”, then “as a power that stands up for itself, will have to make itself respected and therefore react”.
