The Blubber

EU Approves 25% Tariffs on Wide Range of U.S. Goods in Response to Trump’s Trade Measures

EU member states on Wednesday approved a 25% tariff on a broad selection of American products—ranging from almonds and orange juice to poultry, soybeans, steel, aluminium, tobacco, and yachts—in direct retaliation for the U.S. imposing 25% duties on European steel and aluminium exports.

These tariffs mark the EU’s first retaliatory action in response to the global trade offensive launched by U.S. President Donald Trump. The list of targeted goods, which had been reviewed by Euronews, was the focus of intense negotiations among EU governments, with concerns that U.S. countermeasures could disproportionately impact their domestic industries.

Hungary made clear it did not support the measure, while France, Ireland, and Italy successfully lobbied to remove Bourbon whiskey from the list after Trump warned that its inclusion would trigger a 200% tariff on European alcohol.

The final list of U.S. goods affected by the EU’s counter-tariffs has not yet been released publicly.

“They [EU tariffs] can be suspended at any time should the U.S. agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome,” EU Commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill stated on X.

The EU tariffs are expected to impact slightly less trade volume than the U.S. duties—roughly €22 billion worth of U.S. exports will be affected, compared to the €26 billion in annual EU exports targeted by U.S. tariffs, which took effect on March 12.

In a move to keep diplomatic channels open, the implementation of EU tariffs will be staggered, taking effect between April 15 and December 1 to allow more time for negotiations with Washington.

This is just the beginning of the EU’s broader response. Beyond aluminium and steel, the Trump administration has also imposed a 25% tariff on EU cars and “reciprocal” 20% duties on all EU imports, impacting 70% of the bloc’s exports to the U.S.

The European Commission said Tuesday that it is finalizing a second package of retaliatory measures, which is expected to be unveiled early next week.