The European Union is aiming to prevent a trade conflict with the United States concerning upcoming metal tariffs by favoring negotiation over retaliatory actions, according to EU officials.
On Wednesday, trade ministers from the EU’s 27 member states convened via video conference to strategize the bloc’s response to the U.S. decision to implement 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports starting March 12.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, criticized these tariffs as unjustified and suggested they would provoke firm EU responses. However, specific details remain undisclosed by the Commission.
Discussions included potential reinstatement of duties on U.S. products—a measure initially introduced in 2018 in reaction to similar tariffs under the Trump administration—which were later suspended following an accord with the Biden administration.
Ministers generally concurred that negotiation was the optimal route and emphasized a unified approach.
In parallel, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic initiated dialogue with prospective U.S. trade officials, reinforcing that cooperation is the preferred strategy while ensuring the protection of EU interests.
The EU remains a significant exporter of steel and aluminum to the U.S., with steel shipments valued at approximately 3 billion euros annually over the past decade, and aluminum exports reaching 2.4 billion euros in the first 11 months of 2024.
The lobby group European Aluminium has urged the Commission to begin talks with U.S. counterparts promptly to avert tariff implications.
