If Europe is attacked on its commercial interests it will have to make itself respected, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday ahead of an informal defence meeting with EU leaders in Brussels.

European leaders are asserting that President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs against the European Union will force member states to fight back until the United States respects their economic power. White House officials announced earlier this week that a slew of heavy tariffs would be implemented against the EU,

European leaders warned on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to expand tariffs to the EU risked setting off a trade war that would cause economic harm on both sides of the Atlantic.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump were pushing Europe to take more responsibility for its own physical and economic security.