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The European Union has warned that it is preparing a fresh wave of retaliatory tariffs against the United States after President Donald Trump imposed new duties on EU goods.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, yesterday President Trump announced a new tariff policy, introducing what he called “reciprocal” tariffs aimed at correcting what he described as decades of unfair trade practices against the United States. With regard to the EU, Trump hit them with a 20% “reciprocal” tariff along with a 25% tariff on foreign-made vehicles. During his announcement yesterday, Trump argued that foreign nations have long imposed steep tariffs and restrictive barriers on American goods while benefiting from access to the US market, and argued that this imbalance has hurt American workers and industries. Trump said these tariffs are meant to level the playing field, encourage domestic manufacturing, and send a clear message: if companies want to avoid the new fees, they need to “make your product in America.”
What’s going on now: Shortly after President Trump revealed the new tariffs, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a rebuke, calling the move “a major blow to the world economy.” Speaking in a livestreamed address, she warned that the consequences would be immediate and far-reaching: “Uncertainty will spiral and trigger the rise of further protectionism. The consequences will be dire for millions of people around the globe, also for the most vulnerable countries, which are now subject to some of the highest US tariffs.“
Von der Leyen stressed the EU’s preference for diplomacy over confrontation but made it clear that they would be prepared to act if the US could not reach a fair deal with the EU. She said, “It is not too late to address concerns through negotiations… Let’s move from confrontation to negotiation.” Despite this, she warned that the EU was “preparing for further countermeasures, to protect our interests and our businesses if negotiations fail.”
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who has been critical of President Trump, has confirmed that he is set to speak with his US counterparts in an effort to de-escalate tensions. In a statement on social media, he echoed von der Leyen’s tone of cautious firmness, stating on social media: “We’ll act in a calm, carefully phased, unified way… but we won’t stand idly by, should we be unable to reach a fair deal.”
This comes after the EU previously announced a roughly $30 billion package of counter-US tariffs in response to earlier U.S. duties. This would impact a lot of shit, from the US steel industry to the American Spirits.
More on EU/US Trade: According to the US government, total trade between the United States and the European Union reached an estimated $975.9 billion in 2024. US exports to the EU were $370.2 billion (marking a 0.7 percent increase) from 2023. Imports from the EU totaled $605.8 billion (up 5.1%) from the previous year. This resulted in a US goods trade deficit with the EU of $235.6 billion in 2024.
