The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has called on the EU to “defend European interests resolutely” after Donald Trump threatened to impose 30% tariffs on nearly all imports from the EU. It came as the EU moved to de-escalate tensions after the blunt move by Trump on Saturday. “It is more than ever up to the commission to assert the union’s determination to defend European interests resolutely,” Macron said on social media. The White House economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, said on Sunday that Trump would proceed with threatened tariffs on the EU, Mexico, and other countries if the trade deal offers did not improve. EU trade ministers are to meet on Monday.