According to an internal document seen by POLITICO, the Commission is considering slapping tariffs of up to 25 percent on a broad range of exports from the U.S. in response to Trump’s levies on steel and aluminum.
EU governments will vote on the plan on Wednesday. It would see the bloc impose a 25 percent duty on a wide range of U.S. exports, including soybeans, sweet corn, rice, almonds, orange juice, cranberries, tobacco, iron, steel, aluminum, certain boats and vehicles, textiles and certain clothes, and various types of makeup.
The total amount of U.S. exports affected would be €22.1 billion based on the EU’s 2024 imports, according to public Eurostat figures. That’s less than originally intended after EU countries lobbied to remove items — like Kentucky bourbon — from the original hit list. That was a victory for France, Ireland, Italy and Spain.
Enough is enough
Countries such as France, Germany and Spain have led calls for the bloc not to take any options off the table in dealing with the U.S. president.
“One also has to look closely at [the Anti-Coercion Instrument],” Germany’s outgoing Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on his way into Monday’s meeting. “These are measures that go far beyond customs policy. They have a broad palette. They then include digital services, but have a wide range of instruments, much more than just via a digital tax.”
“One also has to look closely at [the Anti-Coercion Instrument],” Germany’s outgoing Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on his way into Monday’s meeting. | Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP via Getty Images
His Spanish counterpart Carlos Cuerpo agreed.