Key Points:

• The EU has announced economic countermeasures on €26 billion (approximately $28 billion) worth of US goods.
• This response follows the implementation of US tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum imports.
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, labeled the US tariffs as “unjustified” and harmful to both economies.
• Countermeasures are set to begin on April 1, with a full implementation by mid-April.
• Trade partners across the globe, including Canada and Australia, have criticized the US tariffs, expressing concerns over economic fallout.

As tensions mount over global trade practices, the European Union (EU) has swiftly responded to President Trump's newly imposed tariffs by announcing counter tariffs on €26 billion (~$28 billion) worth of US products. This move comes shortly after Trump enacted a 25% tariff on all US steel and aluminum imports, sparking significant backlash from European leaders.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, stated that the new tariffs were a necessary reaction to what she described as “unjustified” US duties, which she warned would disrupt supply chains and increase prices for consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. “Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers,” she asserted, highlighting possible job losses and economic uncertainty resulting from these protective measures according to Channel News Asia.

The EU plans to implement these countermeasures beginning April 1, with a comprehensive package of actions designed to match the economic impact of the US tariffs on EU exports. The targeted US products include a wide range of goods—from bourbon to motorbikes as reported by CBS News.

In addition, von der Leyen emphasized that “we will always remain open to negotiation,” indicating an ongoing desire for dialogue despite the escalating tensions. The reaction from other allies, including Canada and Australia, has been similarly critical, with leaders expressing concerns that these tariffs could lead to a detrimental trade war that would harm all parties involved per Forbes.

This latest development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing trade war that has seen multiple rounds of tariffs and counter tariffs exchanged between major economies, further complicating international trade relations and raising concerns about global economic stability.