Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, said Washington's secondary sanctions on those doing business with its foes was hitting European companies carrying out "legitimate business".

He pointed to sanctions on Iran, Cuba, and the International Criminal Court, saying the EU opposed the US policy of enforcing its measures against companies and individuals around the world.

On the same day, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) condemned the US sanctions threat against companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 project as a "serious strain on transatlantic relations".