EU READY TO RESPOND TO US ON TRADE TARIFFS SAYS SCHOLZ – Scholz says Europe must do everything to ensure free trade agreements are more numerous and concluded quickly
Europe wants to cooperate with the United States but the EU is ready to respond as one if Washington leaves it no choice by imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday (March 30).
Speaking at the opening of the Hanover industrial trade fair which this year has Canada as its partner country, Scholz said Europe must do everything to ensure that the free trade agreements that the European Union concludes are more numerous and are concluded more quickly. “That is the right response at this time”, Scholz added.
Addressing Trump’s plans to introduce tariffs, Scholz said his answer to “my country first” policies was more free trade, greater competitiveness and more technological sovereignty.
Scholz argued that Europe was not naive but also not weak, and said trade wars hurt all sides. Scholz also insisted that Canada is an independent country. U.S. President Donald Trump has mused about annexing Canada and referred to the country as the 51st U.S. state.
Scholz’ Social Democrats did not obtain sufficient votes in the country’s snap election on February 23 to maintain the chancellery. Since March 25th, Scholz and his former cabinet are holding their positions in a managing capacity until the new government is formed.
