Europe Hits Back as Trump’s Metals Tariffs Take Effect

The European Union (EU) hit back with retaliatory countermeasures Wednesday, as the 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. came into effect.

The European Commission, the EU’s enforcement arm, said its tariffs would apply to U.S. goods worth up to 26 billion euros ($28.4 billion) and cover a range of products including boats, bourbon and motorbikes. The penalties would take effect on April 1 with a second set of countermeasures due in mid-April after consulting with “member states and stakeholders.”

“As the US are applying tariffs worth 28 billion dollars, we are responding with countermeasures worth €26 billion,” said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. “This matches the economic scope of the US tariffs.”

The tariffs are the latest in a growing trade war between the U.S. and its major trading partners that has been characterized by a series of back-and-forth policies—including delaying 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico two days after imposing them. On Tuesday, Trump walked back on a threat to double the tariff on Canadian goods after the province of Ontario withdrew its plan to impose a 25% export tax on electricity, according to reports.

Trump has also pledged to expand the trade measures on April 2 by imposing “reciprocal” tariffs on other countries that have their own levies against American products and has already doubled the tariff on imports from China.