Ex-European Commissioner says EU ready for trade confrontation with US
The European Union (EU) is ready to conduct a trade confrontation with the United States, but the American leader Donald Trump has not won any previous one. Janusz Lewandowski, a Polish MEP and former European Commissioner, said on February 11 on RMF FM radio station.
"We have learned to live with Trump. We know that Trump has not won any previous tariff battles. <...> We are ready for a conflict, but we don't want one," Lewandowski said.
He specified that the EU is ready to conduct any confrontation, and the European Commission has long ago formed a special team that is engaged in preparing retaliatory measures against the tariffs imposed by Trump.
According to the MEP, the American leader uses the commercial way in international relations. Lewandowski noted that despite this, the US and the EU should maintain good ties to counter "real threats".
The day before, it was reported that Trump raised tariffs on US imports of steel and aluminum from 10% to 25%, and also removed various exemptions and quotas for duty waivers for the largest suppliers. Prior to that, the US President specified that these duties would be imposed on the products of 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 British aluminum and steel will be a crushing blow to the UK steel sector.
Later on February 11, European Commission (EC) chief Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU will take tough measures in response to the US duties on European steel and aluminum. She also called Trump's decision unfair and added that Europe was ready to fight for its economic interests.
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