EU to respond with ‘retaliatory’ tariffs against US

The French government Thursday announced it will respond with “retaliatory measures” to the U.S.’s new tariffs on a number of the European Union’s exports.

“We’ve tried to lessen this commercial tension, but if they are not in the mood for conciliation, obviously Europe will fight back,” French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye told news broadcaster BFM TV, according to The Associated Press.

{mosads}The statement comes in response to the Trump administration’s declaration Wednesday that it will impose 25 percent tariffs on certain EU agricultural exports and 10 percent tariffs on European-brand aircraft starting on Oct. 18.

“For years, Europe has been providing massive subsidies to Airbus that have seriously injured the U.S. aerospace industry and our workers. Finally, after 15 years of litigation, the WTO has confirmed that the United States is entitled to impose countermeasures in response to the EU’s illegal subsidies,” U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement. 

“We expect to enter into negotiations with the European Union aimed at resolving this issue in a way that will benefit American workers.” 

The tariffs follow a decision this week by a World Trade Organization (WTO) arbitrator allowing the U.S. to impose tariffs on up $7.5 billion in European goods. 

The tariffs will cover a litany of European goods, including wine, cheese, olives, Irish and Scotch whiskies, pork, cookies, clothing, tools, machines and other industrial products from Europe. 

A senior administration official told The Hill that Trump does not intend to impose tariffs on the full $7.5 billion he’s allowed to target, though the president is also mulling slapping tariffs of up to 25 percent on foreign automobiles and auto parts.