EU Imposes Tariffs on Imports of American Goods
The European Union has officially approved the introduction of import tariffs on American goods worth approximately 21 billion euros. This decision is a response to actions taken by U.S. President Donald Trump, who imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum from the EU in March, citing national security concerns.
This is reported by AgroReview
On Wednesday, the majority of EU member states supported the corresponding sanctions. The first wave of new tariffs will take effect on April 15, the second in mid-May, and the third on December 1, 2025.
Which Goods Are Subject to the New Tariffs?
The new tariffs will apply to goods from politically significant regions of the U.S., including:
- soybeans from Louisiana (the home state of House Speaker Mike Johnson),
- diamonds,
- agricultural products,
- poultry,
- Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Most of these goods will be subject to a 25% tariff, while some will face a 10% tariff. Bourbon was excluded from the list following Trump’s threat to impose a 200% tariff on wine and other alcoholic beverages from France.
Prospects for Negotiations Between the EU and the U.S.
The European Commission has stated that these countermeasures could be lifted if the U.S. agrees to a “fair and balanced settlement.” However, no progress has been made in negotiations so far, as Trump’s team currently lacks a clear mandate for dialogue.
The EU is also working on a package of additional measures in response to the U.S. “mirror tariffs,” which are expected to be presented next week. The new American tariffs already cover EU goods worth approximately 380 billion euros, including cars, chips, pharmaceuticals, and timber. Analysts express concerns that the trade war could negatively impact the expected economic growth of the eurozone in 2025.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the EU has “sufficient leverage,” including an anti-coercion instrument that can be applied to protect against economic pressure from the U.S.