BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday said the EU would respond firmly to tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump but stressed the bloc was also open to compromise.
鈥淚t is clear that we, as the European Union... will react clearly and decisively to the United States鈥� tariff policy,鈥� Scholz said ahead of the opening of a trade fair in Hanover.
But the bloc was 鈥渁lways and at all times firmly prepared to work for compromise and cooperation,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 say to the US: Europe鈥檚 goal remains cooperation. But if the US leaves us no choice, as with the tariffs on steel and aluminum, we will respond as a united European Union,鈥� Scholz said.
Trump has announced sweeping tariffs on the United States鈥� allies and adversaries, including a 25-percent levy on auto imports starting next week.
A 25-percent US tariff on steel and aluminum from around the world came into effect in mid-March, with EU countermeasures set to begin in April.
As a major car manufacturer and exporter, Germany could be hit particularly hard by the auto tariffs and they were the subject of a visit to Washington by Finance Minister Joerg Kukies last week.
Germany has vowed a tough response to the tariffs, with a government spokesman insisting that 鈥渘othing is off the table.鈥�
However, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni struck a more conciliatory tone on Saturday, calling for a 鈥渞easoned鈥� approach to the escalating dispute.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also previously said she 鈥渄eeply鈥� regretted the US auto tariffs and the EU would 鈥渃ontinue to seek negotiated solutions.鈥�
Scholz on Sunday also insisted Canada was an independent country, responding to repeated comments by Trump that it should become the 51st US state.
鈥淐anada is a proud, independent nation, Canada has friends all over the world and especially here in Germany and Europe,鈥� he said at the Hanover trade fair.
Canada is a special guest at the event, which officially opens on Monday.