The European Union and Canada have announced retaliatory tariffs in response to the US administration’s new metal tariffs, escalating trade tensions between America and some of its key trading partners.
Early on Wednesday, the US began imposing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from every trading partner, with no exceptions or exemptions, according to the White House.
In response, EU officials revealed plans to impose countermeasures on €26 billion ($28 billion) worth of US goods. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended the decision, emphasizing the need to protect businesses and consumers.
 “Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers,” she said. “These tariffs are disrupting supply chains. They bring uncertainty for the economy. Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and in the United States.”
Canada swiftly followed suit, announcing tariffs on C$29.8 billion ($20.7 billion) worth of US goods. Given that the US imports more steel and aluminum from Canada than any other country, the move marks a significant response.
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Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, reinforced the country’s commitment to its workforce. “Our sole focus is to stand up for Canada interests, Canadian jobs, and Canadian workers,” he said at a press conference in Ottawa. He confirmed that Canada’s tariffs would take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday and were structured to match the US measures.
The EU’s countermeasures were also designed to mirror the financial scope of the US tariffs, valued at approximately $28 billion. The European Commission announced that these measures would be introduced in two phases, with the first step restoring previously suspended tariffs from 2018 and 2020 on a range of US products starting April 1.
By mid-April, member states will activate new countermeasures targeting an additional €18 billion worth of US imports, covering both industrial and agricultural products. According to a fact sheet released on Wednesday, these tariffs will affect steel, aluminum, home appliances, wood products, poultry, beef, and other food imports.
Despite the strong response, EU officials signaled a willingness to negotiate. “In the meantime, we will always remain open to negotiation,” von der Leyen said.
However, Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s trade commissioner, stressed that Europe would not let the US tariffs go unanswered. “We should be making this great relationship stronger, not weaker,” he stated, while reaffirming the EU’s commitment to working toward a “win-win” outcome.
(ABC News)
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