The European Union is exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the United States as prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington fade, according to EU diplomats.

EU trade ministers have agreed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s 30% tariffs announced on the European Union are “absolutely unacceptable,” and they are studying a new set of countermeasures to respond to the move.

Chinese and European Union leaders are meeting at a summit in Beijing on Thursday, with trade tensions running high.

President Trump has threatened to slap a 30% tariff rate against the EU and a flurry of customized tariff rates on other countries that fail to cut a new deal with him.

The European Union has decided to hold off on imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods that were set to begin Monday.

One of the European Union’s most reliable punching bags is shaped like a bottle of whiskey. The EU this week circulated to member states a list of products it could hit with tariffs if a trade deal is

At Wednesday's summit, the EU and Japan are expected to reaffirm their commitment to a rules-based order, as both face trade disputes with the US, but the pair offer differing approaches to negotiations with the Trump administration.