BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – April 9, 2025 — The European Union is finalizing its phased response to the new US tariffs, with countermeasures slated for a vote on April 9. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič confirmed that the bloc will introduce retaliatory measures on April 15 and May 15, targeting a range of US imports affected by President Donald Trump's recent tariff increases.
Šefčovič highlighted that €380 billion worth of EU exports to the US—about 70% of the total EU exports—are now facing tariffs ranging from 20% to 25%, as well as existing most-favored-nation tariffs, such as the 27.5% duty on passenger cars. Over time, the tariffs could lead to an increase in costs of over €80 billion—an 11-fold increase compared to the current €7 billion in tariffs the US collects.
Despite these escalating measures, Šefčovič emphasized the EU’s openness to negotiations, particularly offering zero duties on cars and industrial goods in exchange for a reduction in US tariffs. However, he made it clear that the EU will not wait indefinitely for the US to come to the negotiating table.
“We are fully prepared to sit down at the negotiating table when our American partners are ready,” Šefčovič stated. “Until then, we will proceed with countermeasures, diversifying trade agreements, and curbing harmful trade practices.”
The European Commission has already engaged with 660 stakeholders and EU member states to gather feedback on the steel and aluminum tariffs. This input has informed a robust list of countermeasures, which will be submitted to EU member states by April 7. According to Politico, the EU is considering imposing tariffs of up to 25% on a wide range of US exports, including steel products, in retaliation.
The US tariffs, which include a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, were announced by President Trump on April 2, 2025. The measures will begin to take effect on April 5, with individual tariffs targeting countries with the largest US trade deficits, starting April 9.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
