EU hits back at Trump - Enacts retaliatory package against US steel, aluminum tariffs
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a response to new US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, unveiling a package of countermeasures targeting US exports.
The EU executive has launched a series of proportionate countermeasures against US imports into the EU, targeting a range of American products from boats to whiskey to Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The move comes in response to what the EU considers unjustified tariffs imposed by Washington, which came into effect on March 12.
“We deeply regret this measure. Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers. These tariffs are disrupting supply chains. They bring uncertainty to the economy,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Jobs are at risk. Prices will rise. In Europe and in the United States,” she continued.
A month ago, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on imports of steel, aluminium and related products, affecting around €26 billion in EU exports. At the time, the bloc condemned the move, saying it would not hesitate to retaliate if the US went ahead with the new tariffs.
The European Union, especially Germany, is a major exporter of steel to the U.S. During Trump's first term, the EU responded to similar tariffs with 2.8 billion euros in duties on American goods.
A two-stage response
The EU's countermeasures will be implemented in two steps. On April 1, the EU will repeal the existing 2018 and 2020 countermeasures against the US. These measures targeted a variety of US products, from boats to whiskey to Harley-Davidson motorcycles, covering an estimated economic damage of €8 billion.
From mid-April, the EU will impose a new round of countermeasures in response to the US tariffs. These will affect US exports worth up to €18 billion, bringing the EU's total response to €26 billion, matching the scale of the US tariffs.
The proposed products targeted for this second phase include industrial products such as steel and aluminum, textiles, leather goods, household appliances, household tools, plastics and wood products, as well as agricultural products such as poultry, beef, some seafood, nuts, eggs, milk, sugar and vegetables.
Meanwhile, a two-week consultation with stakeholders will run until March 26, allowing industry and trade representatives to provide input on the proposed new countermeasures. The final legal act implementing the tariffs is expected to enter into force in mid-April, following approval by EU countries.
The road to negotiations
Despite the firm response, the European Commission remains open to a negotiated solution. “In a world full of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs,” von der Leyen stressed. She has tasked the EU Trade Commissioner with resuming talks to seek an alternative solution with Washington.
The EU's response follows a history of trade disputes over steel and aluminum tariffs dating back to 2018 when the Trump administration first imposed taxes on European exports.
Although previous negotiations led to a suspension of retaliatory tariffs, recent US measures have reignited tensions and prompted the EU to take action.
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