The EU will have to retaliate if Donald Trump imposes tariffs on the bloc, according to an Ireland South MEP.
The US president has threatened to impose "very substantial" tariffs on the EU.
Fine Gael's Seán Kelly has said member states will have to respond if Trump goes ahead with his plan.
"If he does impose tarrifs on the EU then the EU's going to have to retaliate," he said.
"That's not be good for the US or the EU but it will be necessary if he leads the initiative.
"So, I would hope in the interim there might be an opportunity for diplomacy to talk sense to Donald Trump and his closest advisors."
US President Donald J Trump shows an executive order. 13th March, 2017It follows after President Trump hit Canada and Mexico with a new 25% tax, and a tariff of 10% on goods from China.
Mexico and Canada have announced they will retaliate against these levvies.
President Trump has claimed high numbers of illegal immigrants and drugs crossing both countries' borders justifies the move.
However, their leaders have rejected those allegations.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that the tariffs risk job losses and price rises for Americans.
"If President Trump wants to usher in a new 'golden age' for the United States, the better path is to partner with Canada, not to punish us," he said.
China has yet to respond to a 10% tax imposed against it.
Main image: President Donald Trump signs an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
