French minister calls for 'collective' European riposte to Trump's new tariffs

PARIS - The European Union member states should forge "collective" response to have "efficient" action against US President Donald Trump's new duties on imported steel and aluminum, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday.

"We'll discuss with our European partners the situation, the consequences that (new tariffs) could lead to and the measures decided by all the European countries," Le Maire said.

"Our answer can only be collective if we want it efficient," he added.

The French minister said he would meet steel companies operating in France next Monday in Brussels to assess US decisions impact on their businesses and discuss measures they ask for.

On Thursday, Trump formally signed proclamations to impose a 25-percent tariff on imported steel and 10-percent tariff on aluminum, amid mounting opposition from business groups and trading partners around the world.

The tariffs will take effect in 15 days with initial exemptions for Canada and Mexico pending the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Expressing regrets over the Washington announcement, Le Maire recalled "a trade war between the United States and the rest of the world will only make losers."

In a separate statement, the country's Foreign Ministry stressed "In the European Union, trade policy is a common policy," adding that Paris was backing the European Commission's action related to the new tariffs.