The European executive has announced that it would retaliate against US tariffs on aluminium and steel if they are confirmed, considering them unlawful and counterproductive.
The EU will react to protect its interests against “unlawful and economically counterproductive” tariffs on aluminium and steel if these confirmed, the Commission said in a statement on Monday.
“The EU sees no justification for the imposition of tariffs on its exports. We will react to protect the interests of European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified measures,” the statement read.
“The imposition of tariffs would be unlawful and economically counterproductive, especially given the deeply integrated production chains the EU and US established through Transatlantic trade and investment,” it added.
The US president claimed on Sunday he would impose a 25% tariff on any steel and aluminium coming to the US without specifying whether European imports would be hit.
The Commission said it had not received any official notification and would not respond to announcements with “without details and written clarification”.
Trump has already announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, and has indicated that he will target the EU.
The EU claims trade between it and the US benefits both sides, with a goods surplus of €155.8 billion for Europeans and a services surplus of €104 billion for Americans.
Aluminium and steel were at the heart of a trade dispute between the EU and the US during Trump’s first term in office. At that time the US imposed 25% tariffs on European steel and 10% on aluminium citing “national security”. The EU retaliated by taxing Bourbon whiskey, Harley-Davidsons and a range of other products. Tariffs were temporarily lifted during the Biden administration, but only until March this year.
