Trade chief Maros Sefcovic said the EU is "ready to defend" its interests after Trump threatened 50% tariffs on the bloc.

A 50 percent tax on European imports would hit the continent hard, hurt the U.S. economy and slow growth globally.

President Trump on Friday took aim at Apple and the European Union in a significant escalation of his ongoing trade war. In a one-two posting spree on Truth Social early Friday, he threatened Apple with 25% tariffs on non-US-made iPhones,