Brussels, 12 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The European Union announced it will respond to US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports by reintroducing tariffs on US products including whiskey, motorcycles, peanut butter and boats starting on April 1.

The European Commission said the countermeasures aim to "protect European businesses, workers and consumers" from the impact of US tariffs of up to 25% on imports of steel, aluminium and some products containing the metals, which went into effect on Wednesday.

The EU will impose counter-tariffs on up to €26 billion ($28.3 billion) worth of US goods, matching the scope of the US tariffs on the EU, the commission said.

Further countermeasures are then planned for mid-April, after consultation with EU member states. They will potentially affect US agricultural products including poultry, beef, certain seafood, nuts, eggs, dairy products, sugar and vegetables.

In addition, there are also to be extra EU tariffs on industrial US imports such as steel and aluminium products, textiles, leather goods, household appliances, tools, plastics and wood products.

"The European Union must act to protect consumers and business," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a statement about the countermeasures, which she characterized as "strong but proportionate."

Von der Leyen went on to say that US tariffs which came into force on Wednesday morning "are disrupting supply chains" and "bring uncertainty for the economy."

"Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and in the United States," she continued.

Von der Leyen stressed that she remains willing to work with the US government to negotiate a solution.

"We firmly believe that in a world fraught with geopolitical and economic uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs," she said.

Von der Leyen said she has instructed Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to resume his talks with the US in order to work out "better solutions."

During his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, the Trump administration had imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium from the EU. The bloc responded with retaliatory tariffs on US products such as jeans, bourbon whisky, motorcycles and peanut butter.

During president Joe Biden's term in office, an agreement was reached that suspended the tariffs.

The European Commission said that there will be a consultation of EU stakeholders on the new planned tariffs on US products by March 26.

The member states will then be invited to approve the proposed measures before they are adopted. According to von der Leyen, the countermeasures will be "fully in place as of 13 April."

Photo: Von der Leyen's X