EU Retaliates Against U.S. with New Tariffs

The European Union will introduce retaliatory tariffs on €26 billion ($28 billion) worth of U.S. goods starting next month, the European Commission announced on Wednesday. The move escalates ongoing trade tensions following Washington’s blanket tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

Despite the decision, the EU executive body emphasised its willingness to engage in negotiations, stating that higher tariffs are not in anyone’s best interest.

The measure comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to enforce a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports, which took effect on Wednesday after the expiration of previous exemptions, duty-free quotas, and product exclusions.

The EU will continue to seek a deal. But we’ve made clear from the start that unjustified tariffs on our exports will not go unanswered.

In total, the countermeasures could apply to goods exports worth up to €26 billion.

We will protect our legitimate interests. pic.twitter.com/8sWfVry0YS

— Maroš Šefčovič (@MarosSefcovic) March 12, 2025

The European Commission confirmed it will lift its current suspension of tariffs on U.S. goods starting April 1, with the full implementation of countermeasures set for April 13.

We regret the unjustified US 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports.

The EU will protect its consumers and businesses.

We are launching swift, proportionate countermeasures worth up to €26 billion, matching the economic impact of the US tariffs.

More about our response ↓

— European Commission (@EU_Commission) March 12, 2025

We deeply regret the US tariffs imposed on Europe.

Tariffs are taxes.

They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers.

Today Europe takes strong but proportionate countermeasures.

We remain ready to engage in dialogue ↓ pic.twitter.com/5m1bGZjnsx

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 12, 2025

“The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate. As the United States is applying tariffs worth $28 billion, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.

“The EU must act to protect its consumers and businesses.”

The suspended tariffs apply to products ranging from boats to bourbon to motorbikes, and the EU said it would now start a two-week consultation to pick other product categories.

The new measures will target around 18 billion euros in goods, with the overall objective to ensure that the total value of the EU measures corresponds to the increased value of trade impacted by the new U.S. tariffs, the EU said.

In the meantime, we will always remain open to negotiations.

“We firmly believe that in a world fraught with geoeconomic and political uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with such tariffs. We are ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue,” von der Leyen said.

The proposed target products include industrial and agricultural products, such as steel and aluminium, textiles, home appliances, plastics, poultry, beef, eggs, dairy, sugar and vegetables.