European Commission Announces Swift Retaliation Against US Steel & Aluminium Tariffs
Brussels [Belgium], March 13: The European Commission has announced swift and proportionate countermeasures on US imports in retaliation to the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on EU steel and aluminium. The Commission called the US decision “unjustified and disruptive”, warning that it would escalate trade tensions and hurt businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
EU Retaliatory Measures: EUR 26 Billion in Counter-Tariffs
The EU’s counter-response will include tariffs on US goods worth up to EUR 26 billion, mirroring the economic damage caused by the US import duties on EU exports. The first phase of these countermeasures will take effect from April 1, with full implementation by April 13.
A temporary suspension of EU’s 2018 and 2020 countermeasures against the US will also be lifted, reinstating tariffs on a wide range of American products, covering EUR 8 billion in EU exports.
“The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate. As the US applies tariffs worth $28 billion, we are responding with countermeasures worth EUR 26 billion,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Tariffs are taxes. They hurt businesses and consumers, disrupt supply chains, and create uncertainty in the economy. Jobs are at stake, and prices will go up in both the US and Europe. The EU must act to protect its industries and people,” she added.
EU Criticizes US Trade Policies, But Leaves Door Open for Talks
Despite its firm counter-response, the European Commission remains open to dialogue and seeks to avoid prolonged economic strain.
“In a world full of geopolitical and economic uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs,” von der Leyen stressed.
The Commission has assigned Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic to resume talks with US officials to seek a negotiated settlement.
The Timeline of EU Retaliation
📌 March 26: Stakeholder consultation process concludes.
📌 April 1: The first phase of EU countermeasures takes effect.
📌 April 13: Full implementation of tariffs on US imports worth EUR 26 billion.
What Products Will Face EU Tariffs?
The EU’s countermeasures will target a wide range of US exports, including:
✔ Steel and aluminium products
✔ Computers and tech hardware
✔ Machinery parts and industrial goods
✔ Sports equipment
✔ Cast iron products
The EU’s Enforcement Regulation will guide the legal process, ensuring that its response remains measured and in compliance with global trade laws.
US Tariffs: A New Trade War?
The US decision to impose 25% tariffs on EU steel, aluminium, and derivative products is the latest escalation in transatlantic trade tensions. The move affects EUR 18 billion of EU exports, covering raw materials, semifinished products, and consumer goods—a move widely seen as a US effort to protect its domestic industries.
US officials have justified the tariffs on national security grounds, a claim EU leaders have dismissed as “baseless”.
“The excuse for these tariffs shifts every day. The only constant is President Trump’s economic coercion,” said EU Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly.
What’s Next?
With both sides imposing tariffs, the risk of a full-scale trade war looms. However, with negotiations still on the table, there remains a window for de-escalation.
As the EU pushes back against the US trade restrictions, the coming weeks will determine whether diplomatic efforts can prevent further economic fallout—or whether a deeper rift in US-EU trade relations is inevitable.
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EU tariffs, US-EU trade war, steel and aluminium tariffs, European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, US import duties, global trade tensions, transatlantic trade, economic retaliation, international business
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