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Asked about Trump's comments in an interview with the Times of
London newspaper, European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre
Moscovici said the cost of Brexit would be "considerable" and
that it would deter other countries to follow suit.
"I'm not worried, I think this idea that Brexit is going to be
contagious is a fantasy, a bad fantasy," Moscovici told
reporters in Paris.
"Brexit is not a great thing," he said and warned Trump that
comments advocating a break-up of the European Union would not
get the trans-Atlantic relationship off to the best start.
Europe's best response until Trump's inauguration would be to
remain in "wait-and-see" mode and watch the first steps of its
new administration.
But asked about Trump's comments on slapping tariffs on German
carmakers such as BMW <BMWG.DE> which sought to import cars to
the U.S. from plants in Mexico, Moscovici said:
"We must be extremely vigilant, mobilized and, when the times
comes, reactive, if a certain spirit is confirmed."
"Europe must not be naive and Europe must be able to react," he
said.
(Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Leigh Thomas)
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