EU approves trade countermeasures against US in response to steel, aluminium tariffs

European Union Member States have given their backing to the European Commission's proposal to implement trade countermeasures against the United States.

This decision follows the US’s tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU in March, Caliber.Az reports, citing European Commission.

The EU has condemned the US tariffs as unjustified, asserting they cause significant economic harm on both sides of the Atlantic and to the global economy. While the EU has expressed a strong desire for a negotiated settlement with the US, it remains determined to take action in the absence of such an agreement.

With the vote of approval from Member States, the EU is now set to activate the countermeasures, which will come into effect once the Commission completes its internal processes and publishes the implementing act. Duties will begin to be levied from April 15 onward.

However, the EU has indicated that these measures can be suspended at any point if the US agrees to a fair and balanced resolution through negotiations.

To recall, in March 2025, the United States reinstated tariffs of up to 25% on steel, aluminum, and related products imported from the European Union (EU). These measures expanded upon the original "Section 232" duties first imposed in 2018 under the Trump administration, now affecting approximately €26 billion of EU exports, including products containing steel or aluminum, such as cookware and machinery. ​

In response, the EU has reintroduced countermeasures in two phases. The first phase, effective from April 1, 2025, reinstates measures suspended since 2018 and 2020, targeting US goods worth €8 billion. The second phase, starting April 13, 2025, introduces additional countermeasures on U.S. exports valued at €18 billion. ​

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed regret over the US tariffs, stating, "Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers." She emphasized the EU's preference for resolving trade disputes through negotiation and reiterated the aim for a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement. ​

These developments underscore the complexities of international trade relations and the challenges in resolving longstanding disputes over tariffs and trade barriers.​

By Aghakazim Guliyev