EU trade ministers reject US tariffs

European Union (EU) trade ministers agreed during their meeting Monday that the 30% tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on EU products starting next month are "totally unacceptable," and that they are considering a range of countermeasures against US products.Maros Sefcovic, the EU's trade commissioner and the bloc's representative in trade talks with the US, said after the meeting that it has become very clear from today's discussions that the 30% US tariffs are completely unacceptable.He added that the Commission is sharing with the 27 member states its proposals for a second list of US products imported into the EU, worth approximately EUR 72 billion ($84 billion), that will be subject to additional tariffs if Washington proceeds with its announced tariffs, noting that member states will now have the opportunity to discuss them.For his part, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Foreign Minister of Denmark, whose country recently assumed the EU presidency, stated that the ministers pledged to work together to negotiate a trade agreement with Washington or agree on countermeasures.Rasmussen told reporters after the meeting that the EU remains prepared to respond, including with strong and proportionate countermeasures if necessary.The US President had previously announced, via the Truth Social platform, the imposition of new tariffs on imports from the EU and Mexico, stressing that this step is part of his administration's policy to protect American industries from "unfair trade practices."