CBI Responds to EU announcement on US tariffs

Ben Digby, CBI International Director, said:

“Businesses would like to see governments on both sides of the Atlantic doing everything possible to avoid escalation during these trade tensions. Further escalation will serve only to damage the strong economic links between close allies and trading partners, and fan the flames of protectionist tariffs that hit working families with increased prices and reduced consumer choice.

“The European Commission must continue working with the USA to find a way out of this current scenario that preserves our economic links, and protects jobs, trade and growth from Massachusetts to Manchester and Madrid. We will be working with our counterparts and officials in Washington, London and Brussels to reiterate the damage of protectionism and to defend the economic gains of open markets and rules-based international trade.”