The European Union hopes to avert a damaging trade war with the U.S. over impending metals tariffs by prioritising negotiations rather than retaliatory countermeasures, comments from officials signaled on Wednesday.

European leaders said they would respond firmly to higher levies on steel and aluminum, but they had yet to say what that retaliation would look like.

President Donald Trump signed an order Monday imposing global tariffs of 25% on all steel and aluminum imports in a move that will likely please domestic steelmakers but hurt allies like Canada and Mexico.