Macron tells Trump new tariffs illegal


FE Team | Published: June 01, 2018 18:37:56 | Updated: June 02, 2018 19:38:54


Macron tells Trump new tariffs illegal

French President Emmanuel Macron has told US President Donald Trump that the new US tariffs on European, Mexican and Canadian goods are illegal and a "mistake."

Macron's office said in a statement Friday that the two presidents spoke by phone after Trump's administration announced the decision Thursday to impose 25 per cent tariffs on steel and 10 per cent tariffs on aluminium.

The European Union is planning retaliatory tariffs on US steel and food goods in the coming weeks, once it calculates the exact cost to European Union companies of the US tariffs, reports ABC News.

Macron pledged the riposte would be "firm" and "proportionate" and in line with World Trade Organization rules.

The US decision came despite last-minute talks in Paris this week to try to reach a deal.

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