A top European Union official warned that the 27-nation bloc would implement retaliatory tariffs against the United States following President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25 percent duties on aluminum and steel imports.
“The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers,” she said.
The EU’s trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, told the European Parliament on Tuesday that the U.S. decision to impose tariffs would increase inflation but said he would aim to find an agreement to benefit both the EU and the United States.
“The EU sees no justification for the imposition of tariffs on our exports, which is economically counterproductive,” Sefcovic said, adding that the EU will investigate the “measures announced overnight and will be responding in a firm and proportionate way by countermeasures.”
Von der Leyen is slated to meet with Vice President JD Vance during an artificial intelligence summit in Paris on Tuesday.
The U.S. tariffs, which take effect on March 12, will apply to millions of tons of steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and other countries that have been entering the United States duty-free.
Leaders in other countries were also critical of the tariffs. Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Tuesday that the tariff decision was unjustified and unfair. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the tariffs are unacceptable.
Trump’s decision on Monday will simplify tariffs on the metals “so that everyone can understand exactly what it means,” the president told reporters. “It’s 25 percent without exceptions or exemptions. That’s all countries, no matter where it comes from, all countries.”
Trump said there would be reciprocal tariffs on all countries that impose duties on U.S. goods over the next two days and that he was also looking at tariffs on cars, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
When asked about threats of retaliation by other countries against his new tariffs, Trump said, “I don’t mind.”
Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has frequently warned that he would impose tariffs on other countries for issues such as fentanyl trafficking into the United States and illegal immigration. He also has said he is looking to impose duties because he believes the United States is being treated unfairly by other countries.
During the 2024 campaign, he said he would implement tariffs on goods and said he wanted manufacturing to return to the United States.
“You see these empty, old, beautiful steel mills and factories that are empty and falling down,” Trump said in October 2024 during a campaign event. “We’re going to bring the companies back. We’re going to lower taxes for companies that are going to make their products in the USA. And we’re going to protect those companies with strong tariffs.”
Earlier this month, Trump said he would place a 25 percent tariff on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico over immigration and drug trafficking before agreeing to delay the tariffs until March after talks with Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
He imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on China earlier this month, saying that the Chinese communist regime had failed to prevent the domestic production of fentanyl precursor chemicals.
