Simon Harris: EU and US should discuss tariffs to avoid trade war

As Ursula von der Leyen announces retaliatory levies on €26bn of US goods, Tánaiste urges engagement instead of 'tit-for-tat' tariffs 

Tánaiste Simon Harris: 'Let’s engage. Let’s not get into a tit-for-tat situation of tariffs. Let’s instead find a way forward.' Picture: Brian Lawless/PA 

Europe must be “calm” and take its time considering retaliatory tariffs on the US, the Tánaiste has said.

The EU has announced it will impose trade “countermeasures” on up to €26bn worth of US goods in retaliation to Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, escalating a global trade war. However, Simon Harris says time must be taken to consider the tariffs, a reaction to 25% US levies on global imports of the metals.