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Germany Urges EU Countermeasures Against US Over Russia Sanctions

Germany Urges EU Countermeasures Against US Over Russia Sanctions
Germany Urges EU Countermeasures Against US Over Russia Sanctions

New sanctions against Russia proposed by US lawmakers that could harm European firms violate international law and the European Commission should consider counter-measures, the German economy minister was quoted on Monday as saying.

"We consider this as being against international law, plain and simple," Brigitte Zypries told the Funke Mediengruppe newspaper chain.

"Of course we don't want a trade war. But it is important the European Commission now looks into countermeasures," Reuters reported.

The German government and business leaders have said the new sanctions passed this month by the US House of Representatives could prevent German companies from working on pipeline projects that they say are essential to Germany's energy security.

Earlier, the European Commission had warned the US that imposing fresh sanctions against Russia without the consent of the top world leaders could have “unintended consequences.”

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned in an interview with The Financial Times that “the measures could impact a potentially large number of European companies doing legitimate business under EU measures with Russian entities in the railways, financial, shipping or mining sectors, among others.”

Juncker said Brussels was preparing to take counter-measures against the anti-Russia draft law “within days.”

 

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