PARIS, France (AFP) –Canada and the EU vowed Tuesday to stand firm against US President Donald Trump’s move to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports — pushing Washington further towards a trade war with key global partners.
Trump signed executive orders to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from March 12, triggering a flurry of reactions and promises to protect workers.
Such tariffs would be “entirely unjustified” and “Canadians will resist strongly and firmly if necessary”, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a conference on artificial intelligence in Paris.
“Our response will of course be firm and clear,” Trudeau told AFP — with Canadian steelmakers warning of “massive” disruption from Trump’s move.
The European Union swiftly vowed to retaliate with “firm and proportionate countermeasures”.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will meet US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday in Paris where they are expected to discuss Trump’s orders.
“The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers,” von der Leyen said in a statement.
EU trade ministers will discuss the 27-country bloc’s next steps during a meeting by video link on Wednesday, officials told AFP.
South Korea — the fourth biggest steel exporter to the United States, following Canada, Brazil and Mexico — vowed to protect its companies’ interests.
South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok said Seoul would seek to reduce uncertainties “by building a close relationship with the Trump administration and expanding diplomatic options.”
The spokesman of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said London was “engaging with our US counterparts to work through the details” of the tariffs.
In Monday’s executive order, Trump said “all imports of aluminum articles and derivative aluminum articles from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, EU countries, and the UK” will be subject to additional tariffs.
The same countries are named in his executive order on steel, along with Brazil, Japan, and South Korea.
“I’m simplifying our tariffs on steel and aluminum,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “It’s 25 percent without exceptions or exemptions.”
– ‘Misguided path’ –
The tariffs also appear to indirectly target China, with the executive orders detailing how certain countries — particularly Mexico — were “using” their exemptions to get Chinese imports into the United States.
