EU retaliates against US steel, aluminum tariffs – Latest Food News Update

The European Union is rolling out countermeasures to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that took effect Wednesday, according to the European Commission.

Existing retaliatory tariffs to previous U.S. duties on EU steel and aluminum will again take effect on April 1 after a period of suspension, targeting a range of products including bourbon, boats and motorbikes. Additionally, the European Commission will implement “a package of new countermeasures” by mid-April, following a two-week consultation with EU stakeholders.

The 2018-era tariffs targeted a number of U.S.-affiliated goods including bourbon and whiskeys, corn, orange juice, cranberry juice and peanut butter. New countermeasures could include additional tariffs on agricultural products including poultry, beef, certain seafood, nuts, eggs, dairy, sugar and vegetables.

The actions cover U.S. exports worth up to 26 billion euros, matching the $28 billion economic scope of the U.S. tariffs, per the release.

The European Commission said the U.S.’ steel and aluminum tariffs are unjustified, disruptive and harmful to businesses and consumers. But it added that the EU is ready to negotiate with the Trump administration to find a solution and reverse the countermeasures.

“The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in the release.

The EU’s move fulfills von der Leyen’s previous vow that the White House’s latest steel and aluminum tariffs would “trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures.” Fellow U.S. trading partners Mexico and Canada also called the added duties unjustified when they were first announced.

For Canada specifically, the Trump administration briefly planned to levy an additional 25% steel and aluminum duty before backing off from that decision on Tuesday. The reversal happened after Ontario suspended a retaliatory surcharge on electricity exports.

Sarah Zimmerman contributed to this story.