European Union (EU) leaders have vowed to deliver a firm response against the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports ranging between 25% to 10%, respectively. The tariffs have not gone down well with the EU as it would impact their imports and exports sector.
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Ursula von der Leyen, European Union’s President vowed that the US tariffs “will not go unanswered.” “I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum exports,” she said to AFP. The tariffs on steel and aluminum are imposed on Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, EU countries, and the United Kingdom.
She called the US tariffs on the European Union “unjustified” and will take “proportionate countermeasures” to challenge Trump’s trade policies. “Unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered they will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures. The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses, and consumers,” she said.
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European Union Feels the Pinch of US Tariffs
The import tariffs imposed by Trump on steel and aluminum will be effective from March 12, 2025. Maros Sefcovic, European Union’s Trade Commissioner, called the US tariffs “a lose-lose scenario,” explaining that they are “economically counterproductive.”
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Sefcovic explained that the tariffs will only burden the US consumers as they will have to spend more money to purchase the products. It would lead to higher prices and eventually pave the way for inflation in the US. “By imposing tariffs, the US will be taxing its own citizens, raising costs for its own business, and fueling inflation,” he told the EU parliament in France.
Apart from steel and aluminum, Trump recently hinted that additional tariffs could be placed on cars, computer chips, and pharmaceuticals. If it is placed against the European Union, the bloc of countries could face a negative impact on businesses, jobs, and security.