Ammon News - U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on imports from countries worldwide has elicited mixed reactions. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bisant warned nations against retaliating, cautioning that any response could lead to "escalation."

Addressing world leaders, he said, "Relax, take the hit, and wait to see how the situation unfolds, because if you retaliate, there will be escalation."

China, Japan, and the European Union Respond
China was quick to strongly oppose the tariffs on its exports, vowing to take "countermeasures to protect its rights and interests." Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce stated that the tariffs "violate international trade rules and seriously harm the rights and legitimate interests of concerned parties."

Japan also warned that the new tariffs could violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and its trade agreement with the U.S. Japanese Minister of Trade and Industry Yuji Moto called the tariffs "deeply regrettable."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen kept the door open for negotiations with the U.S. but made it clear that Europe was "ready to respond" if talks failed. She described Trump's new tariffs as "a major blow to the global economy" and expressed "deep regret," stating that the EU was preparing a "new package of countermeasures."

"We have always been ready to negotiate with the U.S. to remove trade barriers, but at the same time, we are prepared to respond," she said, adding that the EU was finalizing its first set of retaliatory measures on steel tariffs and preparing additional actions if talks failed.

Strong Reactions from France, Canada, and Italy
The Élysée Palace announced that French President Emmanuel Macron would meet today with representatives of industries affected by Trump's tariffs, which include a 20% levy on European imports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to respond, warning that the tariffs would "radically change global trade." In Ottawa, he stated, "We will counter these tariffs with retaliatory measures," emphasizing that duties on steel, aluminum, and automobiles would directly impact millions of Canadians.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that a trade war would only weaken the West. She stated, "The U.S. imposing tariffs on the EU is a mistake that benefits neither side. We will do our utmost to reach an agreement with the U.S. to avoid a trade war that would inevitably weaken the West in favor of other global players."

UK, Brazil, and Australia’s Reactions
UK Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds reiterated Britain's commitment to negotiating an agreement with the U.S. to "mitigate" the impact of the new tariffs, emphasizing that London would not take immediate retaliatory action.

Brazil’s parliament passed a law allowing the government to respond to trade restrictions affecting its exports. The government expressed regret over the U.S. decision to impose an additional 10% tariff on Brazilian exports, stating it was "assessing all possible measures to ensure reciprocal treatment in bilateral trade, including taking the matter to the WTO."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned Trump's tariffs as "completely unjustified" and warned they could alter his country’s relationship with the U.S.

Ireland, Colombia, Denmark, and Germany Weigh In
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin voiced his "deep regret" over Trump’s 20% tariffs on EU imports and called on the 27 EU member states to respond in a "proportionate" manner.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned that the U.S. government’s belief that raising tariffs could boost production and employment was "a serious mistake."

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen criticized the tariffs, stating, "Everyone has benefited from global trade. I don’t understand why the U.S. wants to start a trade war with Europe. No one wins—everyone loses." He affirmed that "Europe will remain united and will deliver a strong and proportionate response."

German Industry Calls for Caution
Germany’s chemical industry, which relies heavily on U.S. exports, urged the EU to remain calm in its response, warning that escalation would only worsen the situation. The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), representing giants like Bayer and BASF, stated, "We regret the U.S. government’s decision. It is crucial that all parties remain level-headed."

Meanwhile, the German Automobile Industry Association (VDA) condemned the tariffs and called on the EU to respond firmly, warning they would cause "severe losses." At the same time, it urged continued negotiations, emphasizing that the damage would extend beyond Germany to U.S. consumers and the American automotive industry. The association called on Brussels to sign free trade agreements with "as many regions as possible" to make the EU "a champion of free and fair global trade."