German Economy Minister Robert Habeck on Wednesday insisted that the European Union must take appropriate action if United States President Donald Trump's administration hits the block with tariffs.
"If Europe cannot convince Donald Trump, Europe will have to react as Canada and Mexico are ready to do: with counter-tariffs," Habeck said in an interview with Die Zeit. "We must not allow ourselves to be pushed around and we must not throw ourselves into the dust in front of Donald Trump. We must act confidently and negotiate," he added.
However, the minister pointed out that Germany doesn't want a trade war with the US, emphasizing that neither the EU nor the US would benefit from it. "Tariffs on goods make them more expensive and drive up inflation. High tariffs are, therefore also a major domestic political risk for Donald Trump," he concluded.
