The European Parliament supported the EC's response to the US duties

The European Parliament (EP) has supported the European Commission's (EC) response to US trade duties. This was confirmed on March 12 by the statement of the head of the EP Committee on International Trade, Bernd Lange.

He clarified that these measures are particularly bad because they are aimed at Washington's trading partners and are set arbitrarily, without legal and economic justification.

According to Lange, previously the trade relations between the European Union (EU) and the United States were prosperous, healthy, balanced, fair and sustainable.

"We are united and ready to respond firmly, fairly and effectively. Trade is the exclusive competence of the EU, and the European Parliament fully supports the EC in its response. <...> The choice is for the United States: between further trade chaos and expanded business opportunities. Whatever the choice, the EU is ready," MLex quoted the statement as saying.

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On the afternoon of March 12, the EC announced retaliatory measures against the US duties, which will take effect in mid-April. They will apply to goods worth about €18 billion, which will subsequently be applied together with the reintroduced measures from 2018. The aim is to ensure that the total cost of the EU measures matches the increased cost of trade affected by the new US tariffs.

On February 26, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would impose customs duties of 25% on the European Union not only on cars, but also on "everything else." According to the president, the EU does not accept American cars, and also puts pressure on the States.