The European Union responded on Wednesday to the Trump administration’s metals tariffs, saying member states would place countermeasures on some 26 billion euros, about $28 billion, worth of U.S. goods.
The tariffs are expected to increase tensions between the two economic powers, which have faced ongoing trade disputes.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in a statement that the EU “must act to protect consumers and business.”
Washington has signalled that Europe will need to assume greater responsibility for its own security moving forward.
The EU’s response marks one of the bloc’s most significant trade actions against the U.S. since President Donald Trump first imposed metal tariffs on European producers in his first term.
The new measures will target a wide range of American exports, including steel, aluminium, textiles, home appliances and agricultural products.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the EU’s tariffs as “countermeasures” responding to tariffs of the same value imposed by the U.S.
The European Commission, which handles trade policy for the bloc’s 27 member states, said the tariffs would extend beyond metals to cover U.S. goods such as leather products, plastics and household tools.
Agricultural items including poultry, beef, seafood, nuts, sugar and vegetables will also be affected.
Trump has defended his tariff policy, arguing that the duties would revitalize the American manufacturing sector and protect domestic jobs.
However, von der Leyen warned that the measures could harm economies on both sides of the Atlantic.
European steel producers have warned that the tariffs could have severe consequences.
The U.S. accounts for about 16 percent of total EU steel exports, making it the second-largest export destination.
Trump previously imposed steel and aluminium tariffs on the EU during his first term, sparking a round of countermeasures that targeted U.S. products such as motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans.
The EU estimates that annual trade volume between the two sides stands at about $1.5 trillion, accounting for roughly 30 percent of global trade. While the EU runs a trade surplus in goods, it argues that the U.S. enjoys an advantage in services.
According to the European Commission, trade in goods between the EU and U.S. reached €851 billion ($878 billion) in 2023, with the EU holding a surplus of €156 billion ($161 billion).
