EU Threatens Retaliation as Trump Announces New Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has warned that the European Union will respond in kind if US President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose tariff hikes on metal imports.
Trump announced over the weekend that he would levy a 25% duty on all steel and aluminum imported into the US. This is in addition to existing US metals duties, making it a significant escalation in trade tensions.
Barrot, speaking on Monday to TF1, expressed no uncertainty about the EU’s stance: “There is no hesitation when it comes to defending our interests.” He added that Trump’s announcement was not unexpected, as it mirrored the tariffs introduced during his first term. In 2018, the EU responded with retaliatory measures targeting US goods such as motorcycles, jeans, tobacco, corn, rice, orange juice, and bourbon.
The French diplomat emphasized that the EU would take reciprocal action this time as well: “We will respond again in the same way.”
He also highlighted that the European Commission has already identified sectors that could be targeted by countermeasures. The commission has maintained a list of US products it might hit with tariffs, ready to act when necessary.
The transatlantic trade spat is not new; it dates back to 2018 when Trump first imposed tariffs on EU steel and aluminum, citing national security concerns. The EU promptly retaliated by targeting iconic American brands like Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Levi Strauss jeans.
Trump had further escalated tensions by threatening tariffs on EU car exports, although these were never implemented. Now, with the US president announcing new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, the EU is prepared to defend its interests, as indicated by Barrot’s statement.