The European Union voted Wednesday to impose new taxes on a range of products imported from the U.S. starting Tuesday, fulfilling its threat to retaliate against President Donald Trump’s 25% global tax on steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. implemented in March.
President Donald Trump speaks during the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) dinner ... More
Calling the metals tariffs that took effect last month “unjustified and damaging,” the European Commission said the “countermeasures can be suspended at any time, should the U.S. agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome.”
The tariffs will be rolled out in tiers, with additional waves hitting May 15 and Dec. 1, ABC News reported.
The tariffs will reportedly affect $23 billion in goods imported from the U.S., including agricultural products, clothing and metals, CNBC reported, citing a copy of the proposal it viewed in March, though the Commission has not released a full list of targeted products.
The new tax rate set to take effect Tuesday is unclear, but multiple outlets reported Monday the Commission had proposed a 25% tax on products including diamonds, dental floss and food and agricultural products.
The EU is expected to respond separately to the 20% tax Trump imposed on its member nations Wednesday as part of his sweeping tariff package announced last week.
This is a developing story and will be updated.