MOSCOW: French President Emmanuel Macron said US President Donald Trump should not hurt the EU economy by threatening it with tariffs, since it was not in the interests of the United States, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

"Europe is an ally for you. If you want Europe to be engaged on this more investment in security and defence, if you want Europe to develop, which I think is in the interests of the US, you should not hurt the European economy by threatening it with tariffs," Macron said in an interview with CNN.

According to the president, the introduction of tariffs against the EU will lead to inflation and higher prices in the United States.

Trump said on Feb 1 that he would impose import tariffs on goods from the EU, since Brussels treated Washington bad. A spokesperson for the European Commission told Sputnik/RIA Novosti on Feb 2 that the European Union did not have information about the United States imposing additional tariffs on European goods, but was ready to "respond decisively" if such were introduced.

-- BERNAMA