US President Donald Trump has launched tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminum imports to the United States.
In the trade conflict with the United States, the EU announces a response to US special tariffs to aluminum and steel. “Immediate tariffs at the expense of the EU will not remain unanswered – they will have decisive and proportionate countermeasures,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. From the Leyen initially left open how the reaction should be. A measure to which the EU has already reached in Trump’s first term in term is likely. Meanwhile, the next customs offensive is already being worked on in the White House.
EU wants to check the extent of the US tariffs first
“I deeply regret the United States’ decision to raise tariffs to European steel and aluminum exports,” said von der Leyen on X. However, the EU will defend employees, companies and consumers in the EU. Customs are taxes – bad for companies and even worse for consumers.
The chairman of the trade committee in the EU Parliament, Bernd Lange, said in RBB24 Inforadio, when Trump begins again, the EU would of course immediately put its counter-tariffs into force. “That is 50 percent on motorcycles, on jeans, on peanut butter on bourbon whiskey – i.e. on products that American exporters meet.” With these tariffs, the EU had reacted in Trump’s first term when US special duties were introduced to steel and aluminum exports from the EU. Nevertheless, according to the SPD politician, the EU will initially rely on negotiations for a long time.
EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said in the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the extent of the measures ordered by Trump are currently being examined. After that, there will be the countermeasures. At the same time, he emphasized that the EU is ready for negotiations in order to find advantageous solutions if possible.
Scholz warns of “Irrweg” with tariffs and tariffs
US President Donald Trump had previously launched tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminum imports to the United States. The Republican signed two orders in the White House and said that the tariffs should apply without exception to imports from all countries.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in the Bundestag: “If the United States does not give us any other choice, the European Union will react to this.” As the largest market in the world with 450 million citizens, the EU has the strength. “But I hope that we will be spared the wrong way of tariffs and against tariffs.”
According to the Stahl industry association, the United States is the most important sales market for the European steel industry. Germany is the largest steel producer in the EU and is seventh worldwide behind China, India, Japan, the USA, Russia and South Korea. Overall, the tariffs for Germany and the EU have a deterrent effect, said Lisandra Flach, head of the IFO Center for Foreign Affairs. “Overall, the United States is likely to suffer more than the EU.” Industries that use steel in production could possibly even benefit from falling steel prices in Europe if US exports go back.
Trump is already working on the next tariffs
The US President made it clear during the night that the end of the flagpole had not yet been reached in the customs dispute. Next, within the next two days, he will announce reciprocal tariffs. This means mutual tariffs that are adapted to the customs level of the respective trading partner.
Washington (dpa-Afx)