European Union member states on Wednesday approved the first round of retaliatory tariffs on selected US imports, ranging from “10 per cent to 25 per cent,” with implementation set for next week, according to the European Commission.
The newly approved tariffs target American-made consumer goods, including iconic products like “jeans and motorcycles.” However, the EU confirmed that “US-made whiskey and other alcoholic beverages” were removed from the initial list proposed by the Commission.
The bloc is also preparing additional countermeasures. New tariffs are scheduled to take effect in “mid-May and at the end of the year,” impacting a wider range of goods such as “beef, poultry and citrus fruits such as oranges or grapefruit.” Further duties on “nuts and soybeans” are planned for “early December.”
This initial round of tariffs comes as a direct response to the United States’ move to impose levies on EU “steel and aluminium imports” about a month ago.
Based on EU estimates, these US tariffs are affecting exports worth approximately “26 billion euros, 28.8 billion U.S. dollars.” In response, Brussels’ current measures will hit US products valued at around “21 billion euros.”
Despite these actions, EU officials maintain that dialogue is still the preferred path forward. The Commission reiterated its stance, stating that it remains open to resolving the dispute through negotiations rather than escalating tensions further.
Additionally, the EU revealed it is still working on a “further package of measures” to respond to newly announced US tariffs on “cars and almost all other EU exports to the U.S.” introduced by President Donald Trump.