Survey finds Europeans support countermeasures

A survey shows most people in western Europe would back retaliatory tariffs against the United States if President Donald Trump implements sweeping import duties on major trading partners.

Trump was poised to announce a range of country-specific tariffs on Wednesday, a day he has called "liberation day". He has also indicated that he will introduce a 25 percent levy on car imports the next day.

The impact on European companies is expected to be severe, particularly on German automakers and French producers of luxury goods, wine, Champagne, and spirits who get up to 20 percent of their revenue from US exports, reported The Guardian newspaper.