While the EU has said its priority is to find a negotiated solution with the US, it’s also been preparing to retaliate if necessary.
The EU has approved tariffs on €21 billion ($23.9 billion) of US goods in response to Trump’s metals levies that can be quickly implemented. They target politically sensitive American states and include products such as soybeans from Louisiana, home to House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as agricultural products, poultry and motorcycles.
The bloc is also preparing an additional list of tariffs on €95 billion of American products. Those measures, which are in response to Trump’s “reciprocal” levies and automotive duties would target industrial goods including Boeing Co. aircraft, US-made cars and bourbon.
Some member states have been urging cool heads as the tariff deadline nears. German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said the EU and US need “to calm down” ahead of the talks.
“We need to find common ground. That must be the goal,” Reiche said at a Handelsblatt event in Heilbronn on Monday. At the same time, the US must understand that tariffs also hurt them, she said. “There are still six weeks left to find a solution,” said Reiche.