The European Union is preparing to impose retaliation rates on the United States, addressing US goods with duties of up to 25%, in response to a large set of US rates. UU. Last week, according to a Reuters report that cits informed sources. The European Commission, the EU executive arm, has written a confidential document detailing the thesis countermeasures and has circulated it to the Member States for approval, indicating a possible escalation in transatlantic commercial tensions.
EU tariffs propose after the announcement of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, on April 2, called “Liberation Day”, when he presented a broad tariff regime that affects 185 countries. The United States policy imposes a reference tariff or 10% in all imported goods, with higher “reciprocal” rates for specific nations: 20% for EU countries, 34% for China, 26% for India, 25% for South Korea, 24% for Japan and 10% for Great Britain. The most steep duties are directed to smaller economies, including Lesotho and the French territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon with 50%, Cambodia at 49%, 48%, Madagascar with 47%, and Sri Lanka and Myanmar to 44%each.
In particular, the EU retaliation plan causes the American import tariffs, a decision that could provide relief to an industry previously mistreated by commercial disputes. During Trump’s first mandate, an EU tariff of 25% on American whiskey, impossible in 2018 in response to steel and aluminum rates of the United States, caused exports to collapse at 20%, from $ 552 million to $ 440 million between 2018 and 201, categorying (disc). Exports recovered to $ 705 million in 2023 after a suspension of these rates, but the threat of renovations had become large until this exemption arose.
The EU Commissioner of Commerce Maroš šefčovič stressed the bets, noting that US tariffs impact € 380 billion ($ 413 billion) in EU exports to the United States, of 70% of the total exports of the block to its largest commercial partner. “These measures threaten the basis of our economic relationship.” ŠEFčovič said in a statement last week. “We are prepared to defend our interests while open to dialogue.”
The confidential document of the European Commission, according to Reuters, describes a specific approach to hit US exports, the details of thoughts beyond the exemption of whiskey remain under the wrapping pending the approval of the 27 EU member states. Analysts Wait for tariffs to focus on politics sensitive products, such as agricultural goods, motorcycles and appliances.“Sectors beaten in past retaliation actions.” In 2018, the EU raised tariffs on US products worth $ 2.8 billion, including Harley-Davidson motorcycles and peanut butter, which caused protests from the affected industries.
Trump tariffs, which entered into force on April 9, are based on previous measures, including a 25% duty on steel and aluminum imports announced in March and a 25% rate on automotive imports of all countries that expect Canada and Mexico. The White House has framed these policies as a means to address commercial imbalances, and Trump affirms in a Rosas Garden event on April 2 that the United States had been “The advantage of tasks for too long.” The administration formula for “reciprocal” rates, supposedly based on commercial deficits deducted by export values, in half of clemency, has attracted the skepticism of economists who warn about inflationary pressures and supply chain interruptions.
The EU’s response reflects the tasks of shares of other US business partners. Canada, the largest aluminum supplier to the United States, has already announced countermeasures, while China has indicated the preparation to increase its own rates beyond the existing rate of 34%that aggravates an earlier duty of 20%. Cascade retaliations have shaken global markets, with the S&P 500 falling 2.47% in trade off time after Trump’s announcement, according to financial reports.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized a two-way strategy on April 1, said according to Al-Jazeera, “We have a solid plan to retaliate if necessary, but our preference is to negotiate a solution.” Publications in X reflect a combination of alarm and challenge between European observers, and some predict a broader commercial war that could and technological giants: a von der sector led insinuated the podiums if the tensions intensify even more.
The American-Eue commercial relationship, the largest in the world, supports millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2024, the United States imported $ 576 billion in EU goods, while exporting $ 367 billion, for US commercial data. UU. The EUS retaliation package 26 billion ($ 28 billion), if approved, would mark a significant counterweight, thought it pales compared to the 380 billion euros in exports now under the pressure US tariffs.
As the member states deliberate, the clock is marking. The EU is aimed at finishing its measures in mid -April, potently delaying an in -intracing deadline of March 31 to refine the objectives and allow last minute conversations. “Tariffs are taxes, bad for business, worse for consumers.” Von der Leyen said, echoing a feeling shared by industry leaders such as the CEO of Discus Chris Swonger, who urged Swift Resolution to protect the rebound from American whiskey.
With Trump threatening an additional action that includes a 200% tariff on the European wine and spirits announced on March 13, the transatlantic commercial dispute is risked by spiral in a full -fledged economic conflict, testing the ability to recover the Hains of global offer and patience.
