European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Tuesday to respond with “firm and proportionate” countermeasures to Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, warning that the decision “will not go unanswered,” Politico reported.
“Tariffs are taxes—bad for business, worse for consumers,” von der Leyen said in a statement. She denounced the 25% levy as “unjustified” and said that Brussels is considering its next move and reviewing possible retaliatory measures.
“It’s a big deal. This is the beginning of making America rich again,” Trump said Monday night, justifying his decision as part of his broader economic strategy.
The EU was the third-largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the US last year, with roughly 20% of its output destined for America. The new tariffs threaten to negatively impact European steelmakers hard, as they already face increasing global competition.
European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič slammed the move, calling it a “lose-lose scenario.”
Trump’s latest tariffs expand on his 2018 trade policies, which initially targeted foreign steel and aluminum but were later suspended after negotiations with the EU.
In 2018, the EU responded to Trump’s initial tariffs with counter-duties on iconic American products like Harley-Davidson motorcycles, bourbon, and jeans. A similar approach could be on the table this time.
Von der Leyen will meet with US Vice President JD Vance later on Tuesday. While her statement left room for negotiation, European officials made it clear they are not backing down.
“We are assessing the scope of the measures announced overnight,” Šefčovič said. “We will be responding in a firm and proportionate way with countermeasures.”