The European Union has postponed the first hefty import tariffs – a counter-reaction to the American tariffs on steel and aluminium – until mid-April. This gives the EU two weeks more time to negotiate with the United States.
The tariffs are two different import tariffs, according to the Reuters news agency. The first levy would take effect on 1 April. These are the same measures as in 2018. Then, the EU imposed import duties on 4.5 billion euros worth of American products in response to import duties on aluminium and steel from the EU that Donald Trump had introduced during his first term as president.
In the end, it’s always about the booze.
Europe's trade war with Trump has barely started, but some EU leaders are already dropping their weapons and fleeing the battlefield in a bid to escape Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught against their exporters.https://t.co/deeDYd6WVv
— Camille Gijs (@CamGijs) March 20, 2025
The second series of measures would take effect on 13 April: another 18 billion euros in levies on American goods.
‘This would give us extra time for negotiations with our American partners,’ said European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic (Trade) in the European Parliament on Thursday about the postponement. The delay also gives the EU more time to consider which goods are best suited for import tariffs.
The first package of measures consists of a 50% import tariff on American bourbon. Trump previously threatened to impose a 200% tariff on all European wines and other alcoholic products if the EU goes through with this measure.
The second package, which would come into effect on 13 April, is likely to affect various industrial and agricultural products, such as textiles, household appliances and wood products, but also meat, fish, dairy products and vegetables. The EU ultimately wants to ensure that the value of the countermeasures corresponds to the value of the American sanctions package.
The EU was charging 10% tariffs on our vehicles. We charged 2.5% on theirs.
Trump threatened reciprocal tariffs, RAISING ours to 10%.
Instead, the EU capitulated & reduced their tariffs DOWN to 2.5%.
That's EXACTLY how tariffs help the US when used as a negotiation tool. 👍
— ⭐️The FJC⭐️ (@The_FJC) March 20, 2025