Thu Apr 10 06:50:00 UTC 2025: ## EU Strikes Back at Trump Tariffs with €20 Billion Retaliation
**Brussels, April [Date]** – The European Union (EU) has officially implemented its first round of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, targeting over €20 billion worth of American goods. The move comes hours after China announced further tariffs on US imports and marks the EU’s initial response to President Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs imposed last month.
The tariffs, ranging from 15% to 25%, will come into effect on April 15th and affect a wide range of products including soybeans, motorcycles, and beauty products. The EU stated that these measures are a response to what it considers unfair and damaging US tariffs that harm both economies and the global market. The EU also noted that these retaliatory tariffs could be suspended if the US agrees to fair and balanced negotiations.
The EU’s response is two-pronged. Firstly, it reactivates previously suspended tariffs from Trump’s first term. Secondly, it introduces a new list of goods subject to tariffs, with some taking effect in May and others in December. This list, approved by 26 of the 27 EU member states (Hungary opposed), specifically targets industries concentrated in states controlled by the Republican party. Affected goods include poultry, rice, corn, fruit and nuts, timber, motorcycles, plastics, textiles, artwork, and electrical equipment. The EU has yet to announce a response to Trump’s subsequent tariffs on EU cars and other “reciprocal” levies.
The EU Commission emphasizes that the tariffs are a direct response to the US’s protectionist trade policies and hopes for a swift resolution through negotiation.
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