EU Hits Back at U.S. Tariffs as Trade Tensions Grow Under Trump

The European Union is officially firing back at Trump’s sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum. On Wednesday, the EU voted to move forward with its first round of retaliatory measures against U.S. goods.

Starting April 15, the EU will begin collecting duties on selected U.S. imports. A second wave of tariffs will follow on May 15. The products expected to be targeted range from food items like poultry and grains to clothing and metal goods. While the EU has not released the full list, officials confirmed that several American industries will feel the impact.

This move comes in direct response to Trump’s decision to place a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum from the EU, a part of his broader trade agenda that now affects over 180 countries and territories. Nearly all EU exports to the U.S. now face a 20 percent tariff.

The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 27-member bloc, says the U.S. tariffs are harmful and unnecessary. While EU leaders say they still prefer a negotiated solution, they are moving forward with these countermeasures to protect their own industries.

Unless both sides can reach a deal, this trade conflict could escalate further and add more strain to the already fragile global economy.