VIENNA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Friday urged for tough countermeasures by the European Union (EU) to the planed punitive tariffs on steel and aluminum announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday.
"I expect a confident EU response to the measures announced by Trump," Kurz said in a written statement to the Austrian press agency on Friday.
The young chancellor of Austria sees the announcement as a completely wrong signal, pointing out that punitive tariffs would negatively affect the economic growth of both partners and could trigger a trade war.
Europe has a strong economy and must take a strong and self-confident role, said Kurz.
