The European Union’s (EU) response to United States (US) President Donald Trump’s plan to impose sweeping new reciprocal tariffs on global trading partners later today will happen at the appropriate moment, a EU Spokesperson told journalists.

The French government expects tariffs to be in the range of between 20-25%, said government spokeswoman Sophie Primas.

“They risk being pretty powerful. People are speaking of tariffs between 20 and 25%,” Primas told reporters.

“This will obviously lead to major economic disorder on the products impacted, not only in Europe but also in the United States,” she added.

Trump was expected to impose sweeping new tariffs on global trading partners today, upending decades of rules-based trade, risking cost increases and likely drawing retaliation from all sides.

French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci said earlier today that Europe would respond in a “proportionate manner “.