After several weeks of consultations between member states, EU Commission and industries, the EU adopted retaliatory measures on Wednesday against US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium, Euronews reports.
EU member states approved on Wednesday 25% tariffs on a wide range of US products, including almonds, orange juice, poultry, soyabeans, steel and aluminium, tobacco and yachts, in retaliation against 25% tariffs imposed by the US on imports of steel and aluminium from the bloc.
These are Europe’s first retaliatory measures in the trade war waged by US President Donald Trump against his trading partners across the globe. The list of products, previously seen by Euronews, was the subject of intense lobbying by member states wary of US countermeasures hitting their industries.
Hungary was the only member state to vote against EU’s retaliation.
France, Ireland and Italy secured the removal of Bourbon whiskey from the list of targeted products, after Trump threatened that its inclusion would trigger counter-imposition of a 200% tariff on European alcohol.
The final list of US products hit by EU retaliation was not immediately made public.
“They [EU tariffs] can be suspended at any time should US agree to a fair & balanced negotiated outcome,” Commission’s trade spokesperson Olof Gill said on X.
The volume of US imports affected by EU tariffs will be slightly less than the exports hit by US customs duties – around €21 billion per year of US products should be hit by the EU while US tariffs that came into force on 12 March on EU exports of aluminum and steel are worth €26 billion each year.
The timetable has also been extended to give negotiations with the US a chance: EU tariffs will come into force between 15 April and 1 December.
