Fury as Donald Trump slaps massive tariffs on EU steel and aluminium sparking new trade war fears
The US President announced he is not extending a temporary EU exemption from the measures, meaning they come into force today
DONALD Trump has started a trade war with Europe by carrying out his threat to slap tariffs on steel and aluminium.
The US President announced he is not extending a temporary EU exemption from the measures, meaning they come into force today.
Business chiefs have warned the levies of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium could “destroy” the European industry.
And Brits face paying higher prices at the supermarkets for American products like peanut butter and orange juice once the EU retaliates.
Gareth Stace, head of UK Steel, said: “Trump had already loaded the gun and today the US has unfortunately fired it. UK steel producers are going to be hit hard.”
EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker vowed the bloc will strike back by announcing its own sanctions against the US “within hours”.
He said: “This is a bad day for world trade. What they can do, we’re able to do exactly the same.”
The UK Government said it was “deeply disappointed” with Mr Trump’s decision and would fight to convince him to reverse it.
A spokesman said: “The UK and other EU countries are close allies of the US and should be permanently and fully exempted.”
German MEP Manfred Weber, a close ally of Angela Merkel, accused the US of treating Europe “as an enemy” and said it would “not accept this highly regrettable decision without reacting”.
And Lib Dem MP Tom Brake raged: “Trump has handled these complex trade negotiations with all the delicacy of a petulant three-year-old.”
Mr Trump reportedly told the French president Emmanuel Macron that he wants to keep the tariffs in place until German cars are eradicated from the US.
French finance minister Bruno Le Maire met with American trade chief Wilbur Ross in Paris yesterday but the pair failed to make a breakthrough.
Afterwards the Frenchman said: “Our US friends must know that if they were to take aggressive actions against Europe, Europe would not be without reaction.”
Brussels has drawn up a hitlist of US products it will target with tariffs of up to 25% including peanut butter, whiskey, Levi jeans and Harley Davidson motorbikes.
The earliest any EU tariffs can come into force is June 20.
However, the White House’s move was slammed by the industry body that represents US businesses in Europe.
In a statement AmCham said: “We are very concerned by the damage a tit-for-tat dispute would cause to the transatlantic economy and its impact on jobs.”
Mr Trump insists that the levies on metal are a national security measure designed to protect the US defence industry.
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