A “war” on tariffs in the European Union has been announced by the US President Donald Trump, a development that, as the Financial Times notes, will have implications for the economies of both the US and Europe, straining the already fragile diplomatic relations between the two Western allies.

Trump’s attack was, in fact, full-frontal, as he accused the European Union of being “formed to screw the United States.”

The US president, however, did not give much detail on the sectors that will be affected by the 25% tariffs he is preparing to impose “very soon” on imports from Europe, contenting himself with saying that “it will be on cars and other things.”

Asked about the possibility of a response from Europeans, Trump said “they can’t do anything. They will try, but they can’t. The retaliation will not be successful because we will also be indifferent and not buy anything. If that happens, we will win.”

The EU’s first response

The first response came from a Commission spokesman, who announced that the EU would react “strongly” to “unjustified barriers to free and fair trade.”

“The EU will react strongly and directly against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, even when tariffs are used to challenge legitimate and impartial policies,” was the phrase used by the Commission spokesman when asked to comment on Trump’s statements made just two days after Macron’s visit to the White House and the difference of opinion expressed in his meetings with the US president.

In fact, he said, “the European Union is the largest free market in the world. And it has benefited the United States.”