UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that a trade war was in nobody’s interests. This was the first joint position concerning the new reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States.

In a statement, Starmer’s Downing Street office reported that both sides spoke over the phone about the consequences of the US trade policies. They expressed their concern about the tariffs declared by US President Donald Trump and their implications for the global economy, particularly in the Southeast Asian region.

In addition, the two sides underscored the importance of collaboration and coordination among European allies in confronting the economic challenges arising from these measures, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining close communication in the coming weeks.

Last Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced a package of tariffs on imports to support the domestic manufacturing sector. The measures included a 34 percent tariff on Chinese imports, a 20 percent tariff on goods from the European Union, along with varying rates imposed on several other countries, and a minimum tariff of 10 percent on all US imports.