EU vows retaliation after Trump slaps new tariffs on steel and aluminum

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the latest US tariffs on steel and aluminum, vowing a "firm and proportionate" response after President Donald Trump announced the measures overnight.

"Tariffs are taxes — bad for business, worse for consumers," von der Leyen stated, calling the 25 per cent tariffs "unjustified" and warning that they "will not go unanswered", Caliber.Az reports referring to foreign media sources.

The move effectively revokes previous tariff agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, and other trading partners.

Trump, defending the decision, declared it a major step toward "making America rich again." His administration had initially imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium in 2018, triggering EU countermeasures on products like motorcycles, jeans, and bourbon. Those levies were later suspended, but the latest escalation threatens to reignite tensions.

Von der Leyen was set to meet US Vice President JD Vance later in the day, signalling a potential attempt at negotiations. Meanwhile, European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič denounced the tariffs as a “lose-lose scenario,” warning they would increase costs for US businesses, fuel inflation, and disrupt global trade.

With the EU accounting for around 20 per cent of US steel and aluminium imports, the bloc’s industry faces serious repercussions, particularly as European steel giants already struggle with global economic pressures. The European Commission is currently evaluating the scope of Washington’s measures and has assured that countermeasures will follow.

Trump’s tariffs are expected to take effect on March 12, setting the stage for renewed trade friction between Washington and Brussels.

By Tamilla Hasanova