The European Union hopes to avert a damaging trade war with the US over impending metals tariffs by prioritising negotiations rather than retaliatory countermeasures, EU officials signalled on Wednesday.

Regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent 25-percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States, Nguyen Manh Quyen, head of the Vietnam Trade Office’s branch in Houston, Texas, recommended Vietnamese businesses to wait for clear guidance before making any decisions.

In 2024, Vietnam’s major agricultural export markets will continue to be the US, China, Japan, and the European Union (EU). With the target of agricultural, forestry, and fishery export turnover in 2025 reaching about 65 billion USD, maintaining and creating growth momentum in key markets is an important requirement.

Through tariffs, President Trump may inadvertently pave the way for a reordering of trade relationships and the emergence of new economic blocs.

Data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs show that in 2024, Vietnam imported 876,000 tonnes of meat and meat products worth a total of US$1.78 billion, up 15.2% in volume and 18.1% in value from 2023.

The agricultural sector wrapped up 2024 with 62.4 billion USD in export turnover, marking an 18.5% increase against 2023, while achieving a record trade surplus of 18.6 billion USD, surging 53.1%.

The European Union said it would respond with "firm and proportionate countermeasures" after US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports, escalating fears of a trade war.

Hong Kong will file a complaint on recent US tariffs imposed on the city to the World Trade Organization, claiming the US has completely ignored the city's status as a separate customs territory, chief secretary Eric Chan said on Tuesday.