The EU wants to counter the new American tariffs on steel and aluminum imports with counter-tariffs on US goods in billions. As the responsible European Commission announced, products such as bourbon whiskey, game consoles, motorcycles, boats and peanut butter will be affected from April. The height of the additional tariffs is said to be 50 percent-for example for motorcycles from the manufacturer Harley-Davidson and Jack-Daniel’s Whiskey built in the USA.
Further countermeasures are then planned for mid-April after coordination with the EU member states. They are supposed to meet companies that sell American agricultural products such as poultry, beef, certain seafood, nuts, eggs, dairy products, sugar and vegetables. In addition, there should also be EU extracelles on other industrial products such as steel and aluminum products, textiles, leather goods, household appliances, tools, plastics and wood products. Canada also reacts to new US tariffs in the trade conflict with Washington.
Were affected by 26 billion euros
According to the EU Commission, the new US tariffs of 25 percent exports from the EU with a total value of EUR 26 billion meet, which corresponds to around five percent of the EU’s total goods. “Based on the current import flows, this will result in US importers have to pay up to six billion euros in additional import duties,” it said.
The EU counter-measures should now compensate for this. According to commission information, US goods exports worth 26 billion euros would be affected by the planned EU reactions.
“The European Union must act to protect consumers and companies,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The countermeasures that are taken are far -reaching, but proportionate.
The top German politician sharply criticized US President Donald Trump. “These tariffs disturb the supply chains. They create uncertainty for the economy. Jobs are at stake. The prices will increase – in Europe and in the United States,” she said.
US trade officer: EU acts realistic
The US trade representative Jamieson Greer condemned the EU’s decision. The punitive measures completely ignored the United States’s national security interests – and also international security. They are another indication that the EU’s commercial and economic policy is realistic, he said. “If the EU had acted so quickly to eliminate the global overcapacity as it does to punish the United States, we would probably be in a different situation today.”
EU sees scope for negotiations
At the same time, von der Leyen emphasized that she was still ready to work on a negotiation solution with the US government. “We are firmly convinced that in a world full of geopolitical and economic uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs,” she said. She commissioned trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to resume his talks with the United States in order to develop better solutions.
Bourbon whiskey could be more expensive
US President Donald Trump had already ordered the import of steel and aluminum products in his first term from 2017 to 2021 and justified this “with interests of national security”.
At that time, the EU was already reacting to US products such as Bourbon Whiskey, Motorcycles and Jeans.
In autumn 2021, however, the EU then agreed with the government of Trump’s democratic successor Joe Biden on a standstill agreement, which resulted in the customs duties. After his re -election, Trump now goes back to the confrontation course. He has also announced that he wanted to impose new tariffs on cars and other goods from the EU. He wants to strengthen the United States as a production location and reduce trade deficits.
According to the EU Commission, there will now be consultation with interest groups for the new planned EU supplements on US products. Then the Member States should be invited to approve the proposed measures before they are adopted. According to Commission President of the Leyen, the entry into force is planned for April 13.
Economic representatives urged the reactions. Countermeasures would have to be chosen with careful and strategic foresight to keep the damage to our own economy within limits, commented Volker Treier from the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Customs and counter -tariffs should not result in a spiral – there are only losers in trade wars.
Canada reacts to new US tariffs with counter-tariffs
Canada has reacted to all steel and aluminum imports of 25 percent with counter-tariffs. From midnight, tariffs would be collected on US products such as computers and tools of around $ 20 billion (around 18 billion euros), several ministers said at a press conference in Ottawa.
“Our legendary steel and aluminum industries are treated unfairly,” said Canada’s finance minister Dominic Leblanc. Minister of Science François-Philippe Champagne accused the US government to create chaos that raises the cost of everyday objects for people on both sides of the border. Trump argues that excessive steel and aluminum imports threatened the national security of the United States.
