Lithuania shares EU's regret over US tariffs - foreign minister

  • 2025-02-03
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS - Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said on Monday that he backs the European Union's stance on tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, adding that they also harm Lithuania.

His remarks came after the US slapped tariffs on its key trading partners late last week and threatened to do the same to the EU.

"Potential tariffs on the EU are, of course, a major topic among ministers in more than one council. The EU has expressed its regret - and we fully share it - over the tariffs imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China," Budrys told the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats political group in the parliament.

"Tariff policies harm all economies, including the one imposing them," he added.

He noted that international trade disruptions are damaging to Lithuania, given that it is an open, export-driven economy.

Budrys said he hopes that the EU will not be targeted with tariffs but noted that "if that happens, the EU has response measures in place".

"The largest trade relationship in the world is between the US and the EU - there's no other economic and trade partnership of this scale. (I hope that) it will be preserved and that we won't cause harm to each other. But, of course, we're going to talk about this," the minister said.

"We're also calculations what this would mean for Lithuania. I don't have the numbers right now, but when I do, I'll be happy to share them with you," he added.

On Saturday, the Republican president signed an order imposing strict tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, set to take effect on Tuesday.