ECB's Lagarde renews integration call as trade war looms

US President-elect Donald Trump said Europe would pay a heavy price for having run a large trade surplus with the US for decades

President of European Central Bank Christine Lagarde (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde renewed her call for economic integration across Europe on Friday, arguing that intensifying global trade tensions and a growing technology gap with the United States create fresh urgency for action.

US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to impose tariffs on most if not all imports and said Europe would pay a heavy price for having run a large trade surplus with the US for decades.