German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday (April 3) said US President Donald Trump’s tariffs decision was fundamentally wrong and would harm the entire world economy.

“The recent tariffs decision by the US President is in my view fundamentally wrong and it is an attack on a trade system that has created prosperity all round the world, itself an American achievement,” he told a news conference welcoming Jordan’s King Abdullah to Berlin.

“The EU has the strongest internal market in the world with 450 million consumers, which gives us the strength to hold talks with the U.S. government to avert a trade war,” he added. “We want cooperation, not confrontation, and will defend our interests. Europe will respond together, strong and proportionately to this decision.”

The tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump will put a strain on the United States’ exports as well, said Scholz on Thursday.

“Even if Europe did nothing (in response), it would lead to economic difficulties in the US,” said Scholz.