Scholz called cooperation with the U.S. an EU perspective and goal

The European Union (EU) will respond appropriately to the possible imposition of duties by the new administration of US President Donald Trump, but the EU's goal is cooperation with the United States. This was stated by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at an informal meeting of EU heads of state on February 3.

According to him, Europe and the United States equally benefit from the exchange of goods and services, so if the customs policy complicates this process, both sides will suffer damage.

Scholz also noted that the EU, as a strong economic region, has the ability to dictate its own terms and impose countermeasures to Trump's duties.

"We must and will do so, but at the same time our perspective and goal should be to act in the direction of cooperation," the German chancellor said.

Earlier in the day, European diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas said the European Union was preparing for a possible trade war with the United States. According to her, in case of a trade war, "the only one who will laugh" will be China.

German Vice Chancellor and Minister of State Economy from the Green Party Robert Habeck said on February 2 that the EU was ready to impose retaliatory duties against the United States.

Trump signed an executive order on February 1 to impose trade tariffs of 25% on goods from Canada, China and Mexico. Then he also promised to impose duties on goods from the EU. As the American president pointed out, at the moment China, Canada and Mexico are responsible for significant amounts of drug smuggling into the US.

Chinese economist Andrew Leung, in turn, told Izvestia that the tariffs imposed by Trump on imports of goods from China and Mexico will lead to an increase in consumer prices in the United States itself.