Trump rates: European farmers warn of retaliation, ask for talks | Today news

European farmers urged the EU on Thursday to prioritize negotiations on retaliation against US President Donald Trump’s attack, and warned against a trade war. Pan-European farming group Copa-Cogeca has exposed Washington’s 20 percent rating on all EU goods and said it threatened to disrupt worldwide supply chains and raise prices. But while Brussels prepared countermeasures, the group – which says it represents 22 million farmers – warned against an escalation. Related trading measures “Retention of trade measures will not benefit farmers in the EU or the US. Instead, it will limit our opportunities, increase prices and weaken the resilience of agricultural enterprises,” says Lennart Nilsson, one of Copa-Cogeca’s two presidents. “We call on both administrations to prioritize negotiations and investigate all diplomatic ways before using measures that can have long -term consequences.” Europe’s wine and spirits sector, a major exporter, is particularly exposed, with Trump previously threatening to impose a 200 percent penalty price on imports. Trump announced an outline of imports to the United States on Wednesday that dropped the worldwide trade war fear and caused the markets to fall.