Europe hits US where it hurts: New tariffs focus on Trump's red states

In a move that could shake up U.S. industries, the European Union has announced new tariffs on a wide range of American exports, aiming to retaliate against President Donald Trump’s imposition of reciprocal tariffs on international trading partners. The EU's strategy is designed to cause economic disruption while also sending a political message, targeting goods from states that predominantly voted for Trump in the 2020 election.

According to an internal document obtained by POLITICO, the European Commission is set to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on U.S. exports valued at approximately €22.1 billion. The targeted items span a variety of sectors, including agricultural and industrial commodities such as soybeans, meat, tobacco, iron, steel, and aluminum. These sectors are crucial to the U.S. economy, and many are heavily reliant on transatlantic trade.

However, the EU’s approach goes beyond merely targeting traditional products. The tariffs have been crafted with a touch of creativity, aiming to hit regions of the U.S. where Trump’s political base is most concentrated. The EU’s latest decision reflects both its economic power and a calculated effort to inflict damage in the areas where it will be felt most.

On April 15, the first round of tariffs will be applied, focusing on items like cranberries and orange juice, which were initially targeted during the first Trump administration in 2018 but suspended in 2021. A second batch, including steel, meat, white chocolate, and polyethylene, will face a 25 percent duty starting May 16. The third round, targeting items like almonds and soybeans, will take effect on December 1.

The total tariffs, set to affect up to $13.5 billion worth of exports from U.S. red states, will add economic pressure where it matters most. Soybeans, the most valuable product on the EU’s target list, will be hit particularly hard. As the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of soybeans, the U.S. already faces challenges due to Chinese retaliatory tariffs, global competition, and falling prices. Nearly 83 percent of American soybean exports to the EU come from Louisiana, the home state of House Speaker Mike Johnson, highlighting the political implications of the EU’s decision.

Soybean producers in the U.S. have voiced strong opposition to the tariffs, urging the Trump administration to reconsider its stance. Despite the growing backlash from the agricultural sector, President Trump has indicated that he is not looking to pause the new tariffs.

Other products targeted by the EU include beef from Kansas and Nebraska, poultry from Louisiana, car parts from Michigan, cigarettes from Florida, and wood products from North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. While the EU dropped whiskey from its list following lobbying efforts from France, Italy, and Ireland, it kept a number of niche items intended to cause the most pain to Republican-leaning states. These include ice cream from Arizona, handkerchiefs from South Carolina, electric blankets from Alabama, and ties and bow ties from Florida. Wisconsin will also feel the heat with tariffs on washing machines.

Interestingly, pasta from Florida and South Carolina will face tariffs as well, but Italy is poised to fill the market gap. Additionally, women’s negligées from Ohio and Kentucky, along with men’s undergarments from states that generally vote for Democrats, made it to the final list.

By Tamilla Hasanova