EU responds to Trump raising steel tariffs to 50%

The EU criticized President Donald Trump's move to collect steel imports on Saturday, warning that it “saded” efforts to reach a “negotiated solution” in the ongoing trade war.

“We deeply regret that the U.S. tariffs on steel imports have increased from 25% to 50%” an EU spokesman said in a statement to NBC News.

The spokesman continued: “This decision has increased uncertainty in the global economy and increased costs for consumers and businesses across the Atlantic.”

The spokesman added that the EU was “prepared to impose countermeasures, including responding to the latest U.S. tariff increase.”

United Steel Union (USW) also criticized Trump's announcement and said it was a “direct attack on Canadian industry and workers.”

“Thousands of Canadian jobs are in trouble, and communities relying on steel and aluminum are at risk,” Marty Warren, national director of the Canadian United Steel Plant, said in a statement.

“Canada needs to respond immediately to defend workers.”

Trump announced Friday that he plans to raise tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50%, increasing pressure on manufacturers, relying on industrial metal production.

The new import tariffs will come into effect on June 4.

His announcement came at a rally on U.S. Steel in Pennsylvania after the president said earlier this month that he would approve a controversial deal between Nippon Steel and Us Steel.

Trump highlighted the “agreement” between Japan and U.S. steel at a rally on Friday, but said the deal has not reached the final decision.

He said there will be no layoffs and “no outsourcing” due to the deal.

The EU said it had suspended its countermeasures to negotiate with the United States on April 14.

“The European Commission is currently ruling on expanded countermeasures,” the spokesman said. “If a mutually acceptable solution is not achieved, existing and other EU measures will automatically take effect on July 14 or if the situation requires it.”