EU says it will respond with "strong and proportionate countermeasures" to tariffs announced by Trump

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has just responded to the US decision on tariffs on aluminum and steel.

She said the bloc would respond with "strong and proportionate countermeasures," the Telegraph reports.

"I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum exports. Tariffs are taxes – bad for business, worse for consumers," she initially said.

In this regard, she added that "unjustified tariffs against the EU will not go unanswered - they will trigger strong and proportionate countermeasures."

"The EU will act to protect its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers," Ursula von der Leyen further said.

A reaction has also come from EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who has called them "economically counterproductive", "bad for businesses, worse for consumers" and "increasing costs for [US] businesses and fueling inflation".

He said the bloc was "assessing the scope of the measures announced overnight" but "will respond firmly and proportionately with countermeasures".

Otherwise, the US president claimed on Sunday that he would impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum coming into the US.

Trump has already announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China and has indicated that he will target the EU.

The EU claims that trade between it and the US benefits both parties. /Telegraph/