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EU commissioner Phil Hogan said it is time for Brussels to resort to the same “bullying” tactics employed by the US leader to “put this man back in his place”. Only a “hard line” approach against the United States will bring an end to the bitter dispute which has escalated in recent weeks, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development said. The traditionally close allies have been engaged in a tit-for-tat trade war after Mr Trump’s administration imposed tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium last month. In response, the EU slapped a series of products made in the US with similar levies.

The European Union will ultimately show president Trump the error of his way Phil Hogan

But speaking in County Donegal, Ireland, this morning, Mr Hogan insisted the only way to end the dispute was by matching Mr Trump’s tactics. He said the EU is split over whether to adopt “a hardline or softly-softly approach”, The Irish Times reports. He said: “I’m on the side of the hardline approach. You can only deal with someone who is trying to bully you in an irresponsible way by bullying them back. “The European Union, with its 500 million people standing together, will ultimately show president Trump the error of his ways.”

Trade war: Donald Trump must be 'bullied back', Phil Hogan has declared

He added only a strong, consistent line will “put this man back in his place”. Mr Hogan’s warning comes as European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker prepares to meet with the US leader this week. The pair are due to discuss the lifting of the tariffs, which Mr Trump has threatened to extend to cars and car parts produced in the EU. Mr Trump's top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, has said he expects Mr Juncker to come with a "significant" trade offer.

Phil Hogan advocated taking a tough line against Donald Trump's tariffs

But the EU chief will not arrive with a specific offer on trade, the Commission said on Monday. Mr Trump has repeatedly complained about the EU, pointing to the higher duties it applies for car imports and describing the bloc as a "foe" in trade. And after the US imposed tariffs on EU steel and aluminium amid threats to extend measures to European cars, European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom, who will accompany Mr Juncker, said the bloc is preparing a list of US products to hit if the US slaps tariffs on EU cars.

Donald Trump needs to be 'put in his place' by the European Union, Mr Hogan said

Today, senior business leaders in Germany demanded the bloc stay strong and refuse to agree to terms which would unfairly benefit America. Dieter Kempf, head of Germany's BDI industry association said Mr Juncker should tell Mr Trump the United States would harm itself with tariffs on cars and car part. He told Welt am Sonntag newspaper: “Europe should not let itself be blackmailed and should put in a confident appearance in the United States.”