There is no surprise, it was what Trump already did in 2018, we (the EU) responded then and we will do it again, the senior official to the TF1 channel stressed.

In a further step of his protectionist policy and not yet a month after his return to the White House, the Republican leader will impose tariffs of 25 percent on all steel and aluminum imports this Monday.

According to Barrot, there will be no hesitation when it comes to defending the interests of the EU, a strategic partner of the United States, a bloc of 27 countries that not a few see as an economic power subordinate to Washington’s might.

The European Commission has the mandate to define in which sectors reprisals would be applied, when the time comes, he continued.

The French Chancellor considered that there should be no interest in entering into a trade conflict with the EU.

Barrot’s remarks follow those of President Emmanuel Macron, who told U.S. broadcaster CNN over the weekend that the 27-member bloc must be ready to defend “what it wants and needs.”