from Your News:
The European Union approved €22 billion in retaliatory tariffs against the United States but signaled its aim is to negotiate, not escalate, amid Trump’s hardline trade policies.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The European Commission authorized €22 billion in new tariffs against U.S. goods on Wednesday, branding President Donald Trump’s import duties “unjustified and damaging,” but simultaneously signaling that Europe is not pursuing a full-scale trade war and remains open to negotiations. The bloc’s response fell significantly short of matching Washington’s actions both in size and scope, with some originally proposed tariffs quietly dropped from the final package.
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The retaliatory duties were supported by every EU member except Hungary, led by Trump ally Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The tariff plan comes at a time of heightened global trade tensions, including an expanding U.S. tariff regime against China. While Brussels adopted a similarly defiant tone, its implementation revealed a preference for diplomacy over confrontation.
The Commission’s rhetoric followed a tense standoff in March, when Brussels threatened heavy tariffs aimed at key Republican strongholds in the U.S., including a proposed 50 percent levy on American whiskey. Trump swiftly responded with a proposed 200 percent duty on European alcoholic beverages, directly threatening France’s influential wine exports. That European whiskey tariff was notably absent from Wednesday’s announcement.
Rather than escalating, EU leaders appeared to design their actions as a calculated political message with minimal immediate economic impact. According to Euractiv, the European Commission is seeking a “balanced and mutually beneficial” deal with the United States. The Commission added that some of the agreed-upon tariffs will not be enacted for months, allowing time for talks and possibly an off-ramp to avoid further economic damage.
Despite accusing Trump’s trade policy of harming the global economy, the EU defended its own duties as “justifiable.” A Commission statement argued that “The EU considers US tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy.” The same justification was previously used by EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who warned that retaliatory duties are harmful when initiated by others but defensible when imposed by Brussels.
Šefčovič had estimated earlier this year that Trump’s trade measures could cost Europe €80 billion. In contrast, the EU’s €22 billion package underlines its relative restraint and clear interest in pursuing talks over open confrontation.
