The European Union announced plans to impose tariffs on EUR 26 billion ($28 billion) of American goods starting next month, intensifying trade tensions following U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium.
On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump levied 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, impacting global trade dynamics as prior exemptions and exclusions expired.
The European Commission declared that it will lift its suspension of tariffs on U.S. products by April 1 and introduce an additional round of countermeasures by mid-April.
These measures, initially paused, target items ranging from boats and bourbon to motorcycles, with the EU launching a two-week consultation to consider further product categories.
The forthcoming measures are directed toward approximately EUR 18 billion in goods, aligning the financial impact with the higher value of EU trade affected by the U.S. tariffs.
The list of targeted products spans industrial and agricultural sectors, including steel, aluminium, textiles, home appliances, plastics, and a range of food items like poultry, beef, eggs, dairy, sugar, and vegetables.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that the countermeasures would be implemented in two phases: beginning on April 1, and fully enforced by April 13.
The bloc is open to constructive dialogue, said von der Leyen, indicating that Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic would re-engage in discussions with the U.S. to seek amicable solutions.
