The European Commission said on Friday it would react "firmly and immediately" against tariff increases resulting from U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed "reciprocal" trade policy, which it labelled unjustified and a step in the wrong direction.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during the Munich security conference Friday the European Union will respond if the United States imposes reciprocal tariffs.

The European Union’s executive branch has vowed to “take firm and immediate action” against U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The European Commission, which coordinates trade policy for the 27-nation European Union, described the proposed policy as a step in the wrong direction.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will respond if Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose global reciprocal tariffs, calling them a “step in the wrong direction.

The European Union hopes to avert a damaging trade war with the U.S. over impending metals tariffs by prioritising negotiations rather than retaliatory countermeasures, EU officials signalled on Wednesday.

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Defending a rules-based trading system based on low tariffs, the EU executive said reciprocal tariffs were unjustified and that it will react swiftly. View on euronews