The EU countermeasures are likely to impact US goods exports worth up to EUR 26 billion, matching the economic scope of the US tariffs.
Mar 12, 2025
In response to the imposition of new US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imports, the European Commission has launched swift and proportionate countermeasures on US imports into the EU.
Terming the US tariffs as unjustified, disruptive to transatlantic trade and harmful to businesses and consumers, the Commission said they would also result in higher prices.
The Commission said it would first allow the suspension of existing 2018 and 2020 countermeasures against the US to lapse on April 1. The countermeasures targeted a range of US products that responded to the economic harm done on EUR 8 billion of EU steel and aluminium exports.
In response to new US tariffs affecting more than EUR 18 billion of EU exports, the Commission said it has decided to put forward a package of new countermeasures on US exports, which will come into force by mid-April, following consultation of Member States and stakeholders. In total, the EU countermeasures could apply to US goods exports worth up to EUR 26 billion, matching the economic scope of the US tariffs.
In the meantime, the EU will remain ready to work with the US administration to find a negotiated solution. The measures could be reversed any time, should such a solution be found.
The decision by the Commission to restore the 2018 and 2020 countermeasures against the US will take immediate effect on April 1.
Also Read: US Imposes 25 Percent Tariff on Steel and Aluminum Imports
The process launched by the Commission in response to new US tariffs will proceed under the EU’s Enforcement Regulation, considering the US measure effectively as a safeguard measure. As the first step in this process, a two-week stakeholder consultation will run till March 26. On the basis of the collected input, the Commission will finalise its proposal for the adoption of countermeasures and consult Member States under the so-called comitology process. Once this process is completed, the Commission aims to have the legal act imposing the countermeasures in place by mid-April.
