US President Donald Trump “will not succeed” in dividing European nations against one another over trade, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier warned Sunday ahead of a visit to Washington. In the European Union “we are a customs union and act collectively. It cannot be in the interest of the US government to divide Europe, nor will it succeed,” Altmaier told German business daily Handelsblatt. “Companies and consumers on both sides would foot the bill if the US and Europe tumble into a trade war,” Altmaier said. In a statement Saturday, Merkel’s office said the German leader had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 18, 2018 14:37 UTC