The European Union is ready to talk to US President Donald Trump before making any more decisions on retaliatory tariffs, Ireland’s deputy prime minister said.

As tariffs "ramp up", those in Europe will "suffer most" because the EU's most important industries – cars, electrical equipment, appliances – are "exactly those where China has built the biggest advantages" and is "in position to grab the biggest piece" of any available "trade surplus pie".

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday vowed to respond to the European Union's threat to impose counter tariffs on 26 billion euros ($28 billion) worth of U.S. goods from next month after Trump implemented blanket tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum imports went into effect Wednesday, attracting retaliatory measures from Europe.

Ireland Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris said on tariffs, "he EU is ready to talk to the United States and wants to try and make progress. I think we should do that rather than having further announcements and then trying to respond.

Ireland's foreign minister spoke to the Irish Star on Monday, offering a six-word message to Irish citizens and Irish Americans alike as he spoke about Donald Trump's proposed trade tariffs