EU will ‘do the same’ if US imposes tariffs hikes: French finance minister to AFP #FrenchFinance

French Finance Minister Eric Lombard told AFP on Thursday that the European Union would “do the same” if the United States follows through with 25 percent tariffs announced by President Donald Trump.

Trump threatened Wednesday to impose 25 percent tariffs on goods imported from the European Union as frictions soared between Washington and its European allies.

“It is clear that if the Americans maintain the tariff hikes, as President Trump announced, the EU will do the same,” Lombard said on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers meeting in Cape Town.

“Even if it is not in the general interest, we too must protect our interests and the interests of the countries of the Union,” Lombard told AFP.

Diplomats from the G7 countries spoke to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Thursday morning, telling him that “tariff wars lead to inflation, lower growth and are not a solution”, Lombard said.

Bessent did not travel to Cape Town for the G20 talks, but attended the G7 meeting virtually.

“Minister Bessent told us that negotiations would start on April 2,” Lombard said, adding the EU would “represent the European countries with the aim of reaching a fair agreement”.

“Europe is fully united,” he said.

Trump laid bare his hostility towards its longtime trade partner at his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, saying the EU was created to “screw” the United States.

He said the new tariffs would hit products including cars, adding that the EU has “really taken advantage of us.”

Lombard said he had met Bessent in Washington on Monday, who “presented himself as being open to discussion on all subjects”.

“The United States wants us to discuss it again, so we will discuss it again,” Lombard said regarding tariffs.