German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has urged the European Union to take strong countermeasures against the United States if ongoing trade negotiations fail. This follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the EU starting August 1, after failing to reach a trade deal.
While Klingbeil emphasized the need for fair negotiations and warned that Trump’s tariff policy would harm both sides, he also said the EU must act decisively to protect European jobs and businesses if talks break down. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU still prefers a negotiated solution and has extended the suspension of countermeasures until early August, though preparations for retaliation continue.
The tariff threat comes after Trump imposed a 20% tariff on EU goods in April—later lowered to 10%—and pushed the deadline for talks to August 1. German and EU leaders remain divided in tone, with some calling for immediate counteraction and others expressing hope for a last-minute agreement to avoid an escalation.
Credit: CGTN
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