Von der Leyen threatened the US with a tough response to duties against the EU

The European Union (EU) will take tough measures in response to the US duties on European steel and aluminum. This was announced by the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen on February 11.

She condemned the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports imposed by US President Donald Trump on February 10.

"Unfair duties against the EU will not go unanswered - they will entail tough and proportionate countermeasures," she said in a statement published on the EC website.

The Commission President emphasized that Europe is ready to fight for its economic interests and protect workers and companies.

"Duties and taxes are bad for business and even worse for consumers," von der Leyen added.

In addition, the U.S. tariffs were condemned by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He called them "unacceptable" and promised that Ottawa would point out the negative consequences of US duties.

"Canadians will respond strongly and harshly if necessary," Reuters quoted him as saying on the sidelines of the AI summit in Paris.

Yes States: Trump's policies are exacerbating divisions in the West

Facing the threat of 25% duties on steel and aluminum imports, allies are already preparing retaliatory measures

Earlier, on February 10, it was reported that Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 10% to 25%, and removed various exemptions and duty waivers for the largest suppliers. Prior to this, Trump had specified that these duties would be imposed on products from those countries that had previously imposed retaliatory restrictions on US products.

At the same time, the CEO of the association of steel producers UK Steel Gareth Stace said that Trump's decision to impose duties on imports of aluminum and steel will be a crushing blow to the UK steel sector.

On February 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing trade tariffs of 25% on goods from Canada, China and Mexico. With this decision, he seeks to prevent the importation of drugs across the border and hopes to reduce the flow of migrants arriving in the United States. At the same time he promised to impose duties on goods from the EU. On February 4, after negotiations with the Canadian government, Trump postponed the introduction of tariffs on goods from the country for at least 30 days.