EU Approves Retaliatory Tariffs on $23 Billion of U.S. Goods in Response to Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stands prior to a meeting with Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

The European Union has approved retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion worth of U.S. goods in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum. The EU has described these tariffs as “unjustified and damaging” and said they would cause economic harm to both the U.S. and the global economy.

The tariffs will be implemented in stages, with some starting on April 15, others on May 15, and the remainder on December 1. However, the EU executive commission has not yet released a detailed list of the targeted goods.

The EU reiterated its preference for a negotiated resolution to the trade dispute, emphasizing that it remains committed to finding mutually beneficial solutions with the U.S. "The EU has stated its clear preference to find negotiated outcomes with the U.S., which would be balanced and mutually beneficial,” an EU statement said.

The tariffs represent a small portion of the $1.8 trillion in annual trade between the U.S. and the EU, which involves approximately 4.4 billion euros in goods and services crossing the Atlantic each day, making it the world’s largest commercial relationship.

In an effort to resolve the situation, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a zero-for-zero tariffs deal on industrial goods, including cars. However, President Trump has indicated that this offer does not adequately address U.S. concerns.

Trump's expanded steel and aluminum tariffs came into effect in March, leading to the EU's retaliatory measures. The EU has chosen to target a smaller list of goods to exert political pressure while attempting to avoid an escalation that could cause further economic damage.

In addition to responding to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum, the EU is also preparing a response to his 20% tariff on all European goods, which was imposed as part of a broader strategy of “reciprocal” tariffs on global trading partners. This response may include measures targeting U.S. technology companies, the services sector, and additional trade in goods.

France’s Economic Minister, Eric Lombard, stated that the second wave of retaliatory measures would take into account both European imports and other potential responses. Lombard emphasized that the goal is to leverage these powerful measures to bring both sides to the negotiating table and ultimately reduce duties on both sides, ensuring the protection of economic sectors across Europe.