Germany on Monday said Europe would act in a "united and determined manner" after US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
Trump had signalled over the weekend that he was ready to start with these targeted tariffs on imports into the United States. Details are expected to be announced shortly.
"In the long term, a tariff conflict only has losers," Robert Habeck, the economy minister and vice chancellor of Europe's biggest economy, said in a statement.
"For Germany and the EU, the most important thing is that we continue on the path of cooperation with the United States, from which both sides benefit.
"But it is also clear that Europe must and can only react to unilateral trade restrictions in a united and determined manner. And we are prepared for that."
France also warned the EU will counter in kind and "replicate" any tariffs imposed on it by the United States. The bloc has said it has not received any official notification yet of the new duties.
Habeck also spoke on the phone about Trump's announcement with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, as well as with business groups, his ministry said.
At a regular press briefing earlier in Berlin, a ministry spokesman urged the EU and United States to engage in talks.
"It is right that we... work towards ensuring that these measures do not come into force," the spokesman said.
On Sunday Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the tariffs -- which he would announce later Monday -- will apply to "any steel coming into the United States," adding this will also affect aluminium.
Trump imposed similar tariffs during his 2017-2021 presidency to protect US industries, which he believed faced unfair competition from Asian and European countries.
Entire industries brace for impact
The German steel industry expressed concern over the announcement of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the United States.
The USA is the most important sales market for the European steel industry. According to the industry association, around four million tonnes were exported to the USA from the entire EU in 2023. From Germany alone, around one million tons of mostly special steels are exported to the USA every year.
"It is now important that the EU acts united, planned and quickly," said Gunnar Groebler, president of the German Steel Association.
Previous research by the German Economic Institute (IW) calculated that a US-Europe trade war, instigated by Trump's tariff plans, could cost Germany up to €180 billion over the four-year term.
Germany's car manufacturers in particular have voiced significant concern over tariffs in the US, but the economic impacts would likely have trickle down effects on virtually every industry.
READ ALSO: How Trump’s tariffs could hit companies in Germany hard
With additional reporting by DPA and Paul Krantz.
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