«The European Union will reciprocate, if the US decides to impose new additional import duties on European products", Said the Minister of Finance of France, Bruno Lemerre.
European Union imposes additional customs duties on dozens of US products in retaliation on additional import duties of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum imposed by the US Government.
Addressing correspondents of the Anglo-American press in Paris, the Minister of Finance stated:
«When the US decided to hit us by raising tariffs, Europe reacted unitedly, with one voice. And if the US hits us again, with a 20% increase in customs duties on cars, we will reciprocate. We do not want escalation, but we are the ones being attacked»
He went on to say that Europe does not want a "trade war" with the United States, but that US President Donald Trump must understand that his decisions, which are against the member states of the European Union, cannot be accepted.