Brussels, 11 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a firm response to the special tariffs on steel and aluminium imports ordered by US President Donald Trump.

"I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports," the EU leader said.

"Unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered - they will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures," she added.

The European Union will act to protect its economic interests, von der Leyen added. She said the EU would defend workers, companies and consumers. She called tariffs a tax – bad for companies and even worse for consumers.

Von der Leyen did not initially say how exactly the EU intends to react. It is likely that special tariffs on US products such as jeans, bourbon whiskey, motorcycles and peanut butter, which are currently suspended, will be reintroduced immediately.

The EU imposed such tariffs during Trump's first term in office, when US special tariffs on steel and aluminium exports from the EU were introduced for the first time. They are currently suspended under an agreement with the former US administration of Joe Biden.

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the extent of the measures ordered by Trump is currently being examined. After that, countermeasures will be taken.

At the same time, he emphasized that the EU is open to negotiations in order to find mutually beneficial solutions wherever possible.

According to an earlier assessment by von der Leyen, the European Union and Trump could, for example, conclude a new deal to expand American exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

It would also be possible to import more military technology and agricultural goods from the United States and to lower import tariffs for US cars.

At 10%, these were recently significantly higher than the US tariff of 2.5%.

MIA file photo