The EU is ready to act! Planning to counter Trump's tariffs: The first round of measures targets over $28 billion worth of goods.

Amid the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff "hurricane" on global markets and economic prospects, EU countries are expected to seek a unified front in the coming days to determine their first round of countermeasures against U.S. tariffs.

According to media reports, the EU is likely to approve tariffs on U.S. imports worth up to $28 billion as early as this Wednesday, marking the EU's first targeted retaliatory tariffs against the United States. This move would mean that the EU joins China and Canada in countering U.S. actions.

The EU's Countermeasures Against the U.S.

Automobiles, steel, and aluminum products from the EU's 27 member states are already subject to a 25% U.S. import tariff. Starting this Wednesday, nearly all other EU goods will face an additional 20% so-called "tariff equivalence." Currently, Trump's tariffs have covered approximately 70% of EU exports to the U.S., valued at €532 billion (approximately ¥4,256.05 billion) based on last year's data. In the future, EU products such as copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber may also face tariffs.

The European Commission, responsible for coordinating EU trade policy, is set to propose a list of U.S. products subject to potential tariff increases to EU member states late Monday local time. The list will include U.S. meat, grains, wine, lumber, and clothing, as well as chewing gum, dental floss, vacuum cleaners, and toilet paper, valued at approximately $28 billion.

It is worth noting that this list is primarily in response to Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs, rather than the broader "tariff equivalence" measures.

Bourbon whiskey has received particular attention, exposing divisions within the EU. The European Commission has already decided to impose a 50% tariff on U.S. bourbon whiskey, prompting Trump to threaten a 200% retaliatory tariff on EU alcoholic beverages if the EU proceeds. Major EU wine-exporting countries such as France and Italy have expressed concerns about this.

Earlier on Monday local time, Luxembourg will host an EU political meeting—the first EU-wide political meeting since Trump announced the comprehensive tariffs. At the meeting, trade ministers from the EU's 27 member states will exchange views on the impact of the tariffs and how best to respond.

EU diplomats stated that the main goal of the meeting is to convey a unified message: the EU hopes to negotiate with Washington to eliminate the tariffs, but it is prepared to take countermeasures if negotiations fail.

Divisions Remain Within the EU

Currently, there are differing opinions among EU member states on how to respond to U.S. tariffs.

France has stated that the EU should develop a package of measures far beyond tariffs to counteract the U.S. French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that European companies should suspend investments in the U.S. until "the situation becomes clear."

Ireland, on the other hand, has called for a "thoughtful and measured" response, as nearly one-third of its exports are to the U.S. Italy, the EU's third-largest exporter to the U.S., has questioned whether the EU should retaliate at all.

"This is a difficult balance. The measures cannot be too soft, or they won't bring the U.S. to the negotiating table, but they also cannot be too harsh, or they could escalate the situation," said an EU diplomat.

The EU's First Countermeasures Expected to Be Approved This Week

So far, negotiations between the EU and the U.S. have not yielded results. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic described a "frank" two-hour exchange with U.S. trade officials last Friday, telling them that U.S. tariffs are "destructive and unreasonable."

The EU's first round of counter-tariffs is scheduled for a vote this Wednesday and is expected to be approved—unless 15 EU member states representing 65% of the EU population vote against it, which is highly unlikely.

The EU's first round of counter-tariffs will take effect in two phases: some will come into effect on April 15, and the rest will take effect one month later.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also hold discussions with senior executives from the steel, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries on Monday and Tuesday this week to assess the impact of the tariffs and decide on the next steps.

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