France, April 3 -- The European Union is preparing a response to new import tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, as France's Emmanuel Macron convenes leaders of the hardest hit sectors for a meeting later Thursday.

Calling the US tariffs a "major blow to the world economy", EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Europe is "prepared to respond".

Trump on Wednesday announced a 10 percent minimum tariff on most goods entering the US, and a higher 20 percent rate for imports from the EU. He described it as "Liberation Day", because it was a "declaration of economic independence".

"We are already finalising the first package of countermeasures in response to tariffs on steel," von der Leyensaid in a statement, referring to plans to imp...