EU imposes new tariffs on $23 billion in U.S. goods in retaliation for Trump’s steel, aluminium tariffs

EU approves retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in response to Trump's steel and aluminium tariffs, aiming for negotiated settlement.

European Union member states have voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminium.

The tariffs will go into effect in stages, with some on April 15 and others on May 15 and December 1. The EU executive commission didn’t immediately provide a list of the goods Wednesday (April 9, 2025).

Trump’s global tariffs: Follow LIVE updates on April 9, 2025

Members of the 27-country bloc repeated their preference for a negotiated deal to settle trade issues.

“The EU considers U.S. tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy,” the EU’s executive commission said in a statement. “The EU has stated its clear preference to find negotiated outcomes with the U.S., which would be balanced and mutually beneficial.”

The targeted goods are a tiny fraction of the €1.6 trillion ($1.8 trillion) in U.S.-EU annual trade, which sees some €4.4 billion in goods and services cross the Atlantic each day in what the European Commission calls “the most important commercial relationship in the world.”

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