LJUBLJANA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Potential tariffs on the imports of European cars, as suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump, would cause serious disturbances in Europe's auto industry, the Slovenian Economy Ministry said Thursday in a statement.

The ministry said that the U.S. tariff plan would also undermine global model for car production at a time when efforts should be made in developing clean energy vehicles, according to Slovenian Press Agency STA.

Thus it would indirectly affect Slovenian producers of cars and car parts, as the Slovenian automotive industry is strongly export-oriented, the statement said.

Counter-measures would put an additional burden on the industry, it said.

The ministry further noted that the trade in motor vehicles and their parts between the EU and the U.S. was six times greater than that in steel and aluminum, which had recently been subjected to additional tariffs by the U.S.

Last year, The U.S. imported nearly 300 billion U.S. dollars worth of cars, including around one sixth of the amount from the EU. Sixty years ago, however, the U.S. produced 80 percent of all cars worldwide, while the share today stands at 12 percent.