The European Commission announced today (12 March 2025) that they have taken countermeasures against Trump's tariffs, saying they are unjustified and harmful to both producers and consumers, as well as having global trade distorting effects.
The Commission regretted the USA decision to impose such tariffs, stating that they are unjustified, disrupt transatlantic trade, are harmful to companies and consumers, and often lead to higher prices.
The first step in the countermeasures was announced as allowing the suspension of the existing 2018 and 2020 countermeasures against the United States to expire on April 1. It was also stated that this decision of the Commission will take effect immediately on April 1. These countermeasures targeted a group of USA products that caused EUR 8 billion worth of damage to EU steel and aluminum exports.
In a second step, in response to the new tariffs on EU exports worth EUR 18 billion, the Commission has introduced a new package of countermeasures against US exports. The package of measures will come into force in mid-April, following two weeks of consultations with member states and stakeholders, which will run until March 26.
The European Commission's measures will apply to US exports with a total value of EUR 26 billion. In their statement, the Commission described this volume as equivalent to the economic scope of US tariffs in the EU context.
“These tariffs disrupt supply chains”
The trade relations between the European Union and the USA is the world's largest, stated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, adding: "These relations have brought prosperity and security to millions of people, and trade has created millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. As of this morning the United States is applying a 25% tariff on imports of steel and aluminium. We deeply regret this measure. Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers. These tariffs are disrupting supply chains. They bring uncertainty for the economy. Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and in the United States. The European Union must act to protect consumers and business. The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate. As the US are applying tariffs worth 28 billion dollars, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euro. This matches the economic scope of the US tariffs."
“We will always be open to negotiation”
Underlining that they will implement the countermeasures in two steps, von der Leyen added, “Starting with 1 April and fully in place as of 13 April. In the meantime, we will always remain open to negotiation. We firmly believe that in a world fraught with geopolitical and economic uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs. We are ready to engage in meaningful dialogue. I have entrusted Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to resume his talks to explore better solutions with the US.”
“The EU is part of the solution rather than a problem”
Sefcovic stated: "EU-US trade relations are currently well balanced, as well as hugely profitable to both sides. We should be making this great relationship stronger, not weaker. Sadly, the tariffs imposed by the US today go firmly in the wrong direction. While the EU will continue to engage towards finding win-win deals, we have made clear from the start that unjustified tariffs on our exports will not go unanswered, and we will not shy away from protecting our legitimate economic interests. In relation to steel and aluminium, we share some of the challenges – for instance, on global overcapacities driven by non-market practices – and the EU is therefore part of the solution, rather than a problem."
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