German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the EU will make every effort to avoid a trade war with the US, but Washington needs to join in that effort. The US has imposed tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imports and is mulling whether to add tariffs on cars, trucks and auto parts. “It is worth every effort to try to defuse this conflict so that it doesn’t turn into a real war, but of course there are two sides to that,” Merkel told the German parliament Wednesday. She added that the good functioning of the world economy depends on countries working together as partners, AP reports. Merkel also said that “Germany is a reliable partner in NATO,” referring to the US pressure over what it considers Germany’s insufficient defense spending.