Last week, US President Donald Trump had threatened to impose a tax on European cars and to introduce 25 percent import tariffs on steel and 10 percent tariffs on aluminum.
“It is important in this context that the European Union reacts swiftly and proportionately within the WTO and in respect to the WTO,” French President Emmanuel Macron told journalists.
Earlier on Monday, the German government warned that a transatlantic trade war would damage both Europe and the US.
“A trade war would not be in German, European or American interests,” Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said.
Donald Trump has said that Canada and Mexico could have exclusions from the planned new tariffs on steel and aluminum if the countries sign a new NAFTA trade deal and take other steps.
A spokesperson for the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress said that China is in favor of mutually beneficial economic cooperation with the United States.
“China is not striving for a trade war with the United States, but if the United States takes action harmful to Chinese interests, we will not ignore it and will take all the necessary measures,” Zhang said.
Since his election campaign in 2016, Donald Trump has criticized US trade partners over their alleged dumping practices and has called for the renegotiation of trade agreements.
Donald Trump accused China of currency manipulation and offered to raise the issue of country’s commitment to the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Sourse: sputniknews.com
