The European Commission has outlined a potential package of retaliatory tariffs targeting up to €95 billion worth of United States goods, marking the most substantial trade threat yet from Brussels in response to Washington’s escalating duties on EU exports.
The measures are intended as leverage in ongoing but so far inconclusive negotiations with the Trump administration over steel, aluminium and automobile tariffs.
The proposal, unveiled on Thursday, comes amid the continued imposition of U.S. tariffs that the Commission says currently affect 70% of EU exports to the American market. These include a 25% levy on European steel and aluminium and a 10% “reciprocal” tariff on a wide range of other products — a rate that could double to 20% if no agreement is reached by 8 July, when a temporary suspension of certain measures expires.
According to the Commission, the proposed EU response would cover a broad selection of U.S. exports including wine, bourbon, aircraft, automotive parts, chemicals, machinery, electrical equipment, fish and various health products. These items have been identified as having both economic and symbolic value. However, officials have indicated that not all of the €95 billion in imports listed would necessarily be subject to the final tariffs.
A public consultation on the measures is now open until 10 June, with member states and businesses invited to provide input before any decision is made on implementing the tariffs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that the EU’s preference remains a negotiated solution. “The EU remains fully committed to finding negotiated outcomes with the U.S.,” she said, “but we continue preparing for all possibilities.”
The announcement coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a bilateral trade agreement with the United Kingdom — the first such accord to be concluded in the wake of his administration’s wider tariff policy. EU officials see this as part of a broader strategy by Washington to exert pressure on Brussels to make concessions in ongoing trade talks.
Brussels also confirmed that it will lodge a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the U.S. tariffs, initiating a dispute resolution process that begins with formal consultations. In parallel, the Commission is considering export controls on a further €4.4 billion of goods — specifically steel scrap and certain chemicals not yet covered by the current U.S. tariffs. These measures are aimed at preventing raw materials, particularly scrap metal used in steel production, from being diverted to the U.S. market.
The EU’s earlier package of retaliatory tariffs — approved in April and totalling €21 billion — has been suspended following the U.S. decision to pause implementation of its new reciprocal tariffs. That earlier list included U.S.-sourced maize, wheat, motorcycles, and apparel. EU officials say these measures can be reactivated if necessary, depending on the outcome of the current negotiations.
The disparity in trade volumes is also a complicating factor. While the U.S. exported approximately €335 billion worth of goods to the EU in 2024, the EU exported €532 billion to the U.S., limiting the scope for symmetrical retaliation. Nonetheless, the Commission insists that any response will be “proportionate” and aims to avoid unnecessary escalation.
Business reactions within the EU have been measured. Carmaker BMW, the largest auto exporter from the U.S. by value, declined to comment on the proposed countermeasures but noted that it hoped for a resolution grounded in free trade. German manufacturers, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz, produced over 844,000 vehicles in the U.S. last year, with roughly half destined for export.
The EU spirits industry has also expressed concern. Trade body spiritsEUROPE highlighted that tariff-free transatlantic trade in spirits has existed since 1997 and urged negotiators to reach an agreement by early July to avoid damage to longstanding commercial ties.
In Washington, U.S. Vice President JD Vance commented that talks were continuing and indicated the administration was pressing the EU to lower its own tariffs and reduce non-tariff barriers. “We are looking for a more balanced trade relationship that benefits both sides,” Vance said on Wednesday.
Though the EU’s proposal stops short of immediate implementation, it reflects growing frustration within Brussels over the direction of U.S. trade policy. With less than two months remaining before the expiration of the current suspension period, the next phase of transatlantic economic relations is likely to hinge on whether the Trump administration is willing to revise or roll back its existing tariffs.
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