US President Donald Trump said that the European Union and Canada could face higher tariffs if the two countries work together "to cause economic harm to the United States", Reuters reported, BTA reported.
"If the European Union works together with Canada to cause economic harm to the United States, they will both be subject to massive tariffs, much larger than currently planned, to protect the best friend that either of these two countries has ever had", he said in a post on "Trot Social".
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said today that US President Donald Trump's 25 percent tariffs on foreign auto imports are "direct attack" against his country, and added that Americans are suffering from the trade war, and that, according to him, the record low consumer confidence in the United States is a confirmation of this, the Associated Press reported.
"This is a very direct attack", Carney told reporters. "We will protect our workers. We will protect our companies. We will protect our country." Cars are Canada's second-largest export, and, Carney noted, the industry employs 125,000 Canadians and about 500,000 more in related industries.
Carney said he had spoken with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who earlier told reporters, quoted by Reuters, "We're going to do our best to cause as much pain to the American people as possible without causing pain to the Canadian people."
Ford added that he would soon discuss a coordinated response with the premiers of Canada's other nine provinces. "We have two options: surrender as a country and let him run us over 15 times and get what he wants, or take a little pain and fight like never before. I prefer the second - I believe in the fight", said Ford.
Ontario is the most populous Canadian province and the entire local auto industry is concentrated there, Reuters notes.
The EU expressed "deep" regret over the US decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on car imports, including those from Europe. This was announced by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, quoted by the agencies. "I express my deep regret over this American decision", said Von der Leyen in an official statement. She added that the EU will continue to seek a solution through negotiations with the US, but while guaranteeing its economic interests.
"As I have said before, tariffs are a type of tax - which is bad for business and equally bad for American and European consumers", noted the President of the European Commission. Von der Leyen added in her statement that the EU will analyze the US decision, as well as other measures that Washington is considering announcing in the coming days. "As one of the leading trading powers and as a strong community of 27 countries, the European Union will continue to protect its workers, companies and consumers," the EC President said.