The USA has been planning import tariffs on goods from various European countries, in retaliation for subsidies given to Airbus. There will be import duties of 10% on Airbus planes, and 25% on agricultural products such as French wine, Italian cheese, and Scottish whisky.
The Finance Minister of Germany last week warned his European Union counterparts not to increase tensions with the United States.
Speaking in Washington, he noted that EU officials were working intensively behind the scenes to attempt formulation of a trade agreement with Washington to avert the threatened import tariffs.
The Airbus-producing countries Britain, France, Germany, and Spain will suffer more tariffs than other EU member states.