EU Slams Trump Tariffs, Says Will 'Respond Firmly' If Targeted

People shop at a retail store on Black Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in New York. (AP)
People shop at a retail store on Black Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in New York. (AP)
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EU Slams Trump Tariffs, Says Will 'Respond Firmly' If Targeted

People shop at a retail store on Black Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in New York. (AP)
People shop at a retail store on Black Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in New York. (AP)

The European Union on Sunday blasted US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, and said the 27-nation bloc would hit back "firmly" if targeted.

Brussels had until now indicated it hoped to avoid a trade conflict with Trump through negotiation.

But on Friday the US leader doubled down by saying he "absolutely" planned to target the EU in future, as he slapped levies on his north American neighbors and China.

"The European Union regrets the US decision to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China," said a spokesman for the European Commission.

"Tariffs create unnecessary economic disruption and drive inflation. They are hurtful to all sides."

The spokesman said "the EU would respond firmly to any trading partner that unfairly or arbitrarily imposes tariffs on EU goods".

"At this time, we are not aware of any additional tariffs being imposed on EU products," he added.

He said the 27-nation EU remained committed to low tariffs as a way to "drive growth and economic stability within a strong, rules-based trading system".

And he reiterated the EU's commitment to its trade and investment relationship with the United States -- "the biggest in the world".

"There is a lot at stake," said the spokesman. "We should both be looking at strengthening this relationship."



Lebanon's Finance Minister: There Will be a New Deal with IMF

A technician installs solar panels atop 15 prefabricated cabins offered by an NGO to residents whose homes were destroyed in Israeli strikes during the latest war in the southern Lebanese village of Ramia near the southern border on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)
A technician installs solar panels atop 15 prefabricated cabins offered by an NGO to residents whose homes were destroyed in Israeli strikes during the latest war in the southern Lebanese village of Ramia near the southern border on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Lebanon's Finance Minister: There Will be a New Deal with IMF

A technician installs solar panels atop 15 prefabricated cabins offered by an NGO to residents whose homes were destroyed in Israeli strikes during the latest war in the southern Lebanese village of Ramia near the southern border on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)
A technician installs solar panels atop 15 prefabricated cabins offered by an NGO to residents whose homes were destroyed in Israeli strikes during the latest war in the southern Lebanese village of Ramia near the southern border on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)

Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber said on Wednesday there would be a new deal between his country and the International Monetary Fund, according to a statement released by the finance ministry after a meeting with a visiting IMF mission.
Jaber said the meeting with Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, the head of the IMF mission visiting Lebanon, was "good" and "saw transparency.”
Lebanon has been in deep economic crisis since 2019, when its financial system collapsed under the weight of state debts, prompting a sovereign default in 2020 and freezing ordinary depositors out of their savings in the banking system.
Beirut reached a draft funding deal with the IMF in 2022 - contingent on reforms that authorities failed to deliver.
"I expressed the Lebanese government's determination to carry out all necessary reforms. Not because someone asked us to but because the country needs such reforms," Jaber said.
According to Reuters, he did not disclose details of the deal but said the government was tasked with outlining a new plan with the Washington-based lender.
He said the government presented its priorities in the upcoming period to the IMF, including appointing a central bank governor.
The IMF would visit Lebanon again in early April if a new central bank governor is appointed, Jaber said.
He said further talks would be held with the IMF on Thursday in Lebanon.