EU warns Trump over tariffs

The European Union has urged US president Donald Trump not to head down “a dead end” road of protectionism and warned of a damaging trade war over his new steel and aluminium tariffs.

Economy ministers underlined that the EU supports free and open trade but that its 28 countries would respond if they are targeted by the US tariffs, which are set to enter force next week.

“We are worried [about] the possibility of having a trade war between the United States and the EU because we believe that there will be only losers,” French economy minister Bruno Le Maire said.