The imposition of levies reaching as high as 25% serves as a response to the tariffs on steel and aluminum that the United States enacted last month. Europe has yet to disclose its reaction to Trump’s most recent round of tariffs.
On Wednesday, the European Union implemented its initial measures in response to President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies, targeting over 20 billion euros worth of American goods, including soybeans, motorcycles, and cosmetics.
The tariffs, which may reach as high as 25 percent, are a counteraction to the US tariffs on steel and aluminum that were enacted last month. The EU’s response to Trump’s recent tariff actions is still pending.
According to a statement from the European Commission, “These countermeasures can be suspended at any time, should the US agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome,” following the approval of the measures by EU member states.
The commission announced that the duties would begin to be enforced on April 15.
The EU has characterized the US tariffs as unjustified and harmful, asserting that they inflict economic damage on both parties and the global economy as a whole. It emphasized the desire for a deal that is “balanced and mutually beneficial.”
In addition, Trump has imposed a 25-percent tariff on car imports from the EU and has introduced reciprocal tariffs of 20 percent, which took effect on Wednesday, affecting numerous other countries as well.
An EU spokesperson indicated that a response to these measures might be revealed as soon as next week.
The measures, approved by 26 EU nations—with Hungary opposing—focus on products predominantly from states that support Trump’s Republican Party.
The targeted items include poultry, rice, corn, fruits and nuts, wood, motorcycles, plastics, textiles, paintings, and electrical equipment.
Although bourbon was initially included in the list, the EU decided to remove it following pressure from major wine-exporting countries like France and Italy, which were concerned about Trump’s threats of imposing a staggering 200-percent tariff on European beverages.
The European Union’s strategy in addressing Trump’s tariff actions aims to strike a balance between measured retaliation and encouraging negotiations to prevent a full-scale trade conflict.
The initial retaliatory action received approval as Washington and Beijing intensified their reciprocal escalation of tariffs. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that nations that refrain from retaliating would not encounter increased rates.
The measures sanctioned on Wednesday comprise two components.
Firstly, the European Union will reinstate a series of tariffs that were established during Trump’s first term but have been on hold; these will be enforced starting next Tuesday.
Secondly, a new list of products has been identified for tariff imposition, with the majority of these tariffs set to take effect next month, while a few will be implemented in December.
