Spanish Foreign Minister: EU ready to protect single market interests

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has reiterated that the European Union is ready to protect the interests of the single market, Report informs via TASS.

The diplomat made this statement to reporters in light of Washington's intention to impose a 25% customs duty on all steel and aluminum supplies to the US. "The European Union is ready for any contingency to protect the interests of the EU and the single market," he said.

Albares also highlighted that it is difficult to comment on something that is currently just a statement.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced on February 10 his intention to impose a 25% customs duty on all steel and aluminum supplies to the US. Previously, he also promised to consider the possibility of applying a 10% customs duty on goods from the European Union.

Trump signed a decree imposing tariffs on goods from Canada, China, and Mexico. According to the document, imports from Mexico and Canada are subject to a 25% tariff (10% for Canadian energy resources), and an additional 10% tariff is applied to goods from China. After negotiations with the leadership of these countries, Trump suspended the application of tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico for one month. On February 4, US customs duties on Chinese imports came into force.