PARIS, March 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald

Trump's plan to impose a 25% tariff on imported cars and light

trucks starting next week is "very bad news" and the only

solution for now is for the European Union to raise its own

tariffs, French Finance minister Eric Lombard said on Thursday.

Lombard, who was speaking on France Inter radio, said he

hoped be able to discuss soon with his American counterparts in

view of lowering those tariffs, adding a trade war would lead

"to nothing".

Trump, who sees tariffs as a tool to raise revenue to offset

his promised tax cuts and to revive a long-declining U.S.

industrial base, said collections would begin on April 3.