The EU's response will be "proportionate and well-balanced".
So far, not a single tariff has been introduced - neither against Mexico, Canada, nor the EU - but if the US introduces tariffs against the EU, we will of course respond, says Benjamin Dousa, who does not want to go into details about what the response might look like.
The government is also working to ensure that no jobs need to leave Sweden. We are actively working at the EU level to open up new markets for Swedish companies through more free trade agreements and are also pushing for powerful simplification packages for Europe's entrepreneurs.
A source at the EU Commission tells the news agency AFP that the EU will respond "firmly and immediately" to new American tariffs.
Pausade tariffs
According to Trump, it's about sweeping general tariffs, but he also mentions that they will specifically affect car imports.
We will announce them very soon, says the president about the tariffs at a press conference in connection with the first government meeting of the term, writes AFP.
Regarding the paused tariffs against Canada and Mexico, Trump says they are still current. They were postponed until March 4. Now the president says the plan is for them to come into force on April 2.
The tariffs will be implemented, not all but many, says Trump.
According to Dousa, there are no winners in a trade war.
Neither Sweden nor the EU wants to enter into a trade war. The US is an important market for us and Europe is an important market for American companies. If tariffs are introduced against all the countries being discussed, it will be felt in the wallet for both American companies and American households, says the minister.
"A wet blanket"
Trump's tariff announcement, where it's unclear exactly what applies, caused the leading indexes on the New York Stock Exchange to fall to red before recovering somewhat.
Dousa says that "uncertainty has a price in itself", not least for companies' planning and pricing.
It's like putting a wet blanket over the business sector. Many of the really big Swedish companies also make investment decisions in the billions about where to locate, for example, logistics hubs and production - whether it should be in Mexico or Canada. Not knowing what the rules will look like affects many Swedish companies.
