Germany slams U.S. sanctions on Nord Stream 2

Germany voiced "regret" after U.S. lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill that would punish contractors working on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

"We take note of the vote in the U.S. House of Representatives with regret," the German economy ministry said in a statement.

"Our position on extra-territorial sanctions is clear: we reject them," the AFP cited the statement as saying.

The German-Russian Chamber of Commerce (AHK) said the pipeline was important for the energy security of Europe as a whole and called for retaliatory sanctions against the United States if the bill passes.

"Europe should respond to sanctions that damage Europe with counter-sanctions," head of the AHK Matthias Schepp said, adding that the sanctions would end up affecting European companies more than Russia.