The European Commission has proposed retaliatory tariffs on up to €95 billion ($107.2 billion) worth of U.S. imports if talks fail to resolve ongoing trade tensions stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The potential measures, targeting U.S. products such as wine, aircraft, cars and parts, chemicals, health products, and machinery, are a response to U.S. import duties on EU steel, aluminum, and automobiles, as well as a 10% "reciprocal" tariff on most other EU goods that could rise to 20% in July.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the bloc’s preference for a negotiated solution, but confirmed preparations for all scenarios. The Commission is launching a public consultation until June 10, inviting feedback from EU member states and businesses before finalizing the counter-tariffs.
Currently, U.S. tariffs affect €380 billion in EU exports, representing 70% of EU-U.S. goods trade. That figure could rise to 97% if further U.S. probes into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals lead to more tariffs. The EU has avoided including sensitive sectors like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors in its own list to prevent further escalation.
Previously approved EU duties on €21 billion of U.S. goods, including wheat, motorcycles, and clothing, were suspended after a temporary pause by the U.S. administration. EU exports to the U.S. totaled €532 billion in 2024, while imports stood at €335 billion, limiting the EU's scope for retaliatory measures.
The Commission is also considering export restrictions on €4.4 billion worth of steel scrap and chemical products to prevent market imbalances. Meanwhile, it plans to file a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization. U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed ongoing negotiations, pressing the EU to reduce trade barriers.


Global Central Banks Hold Rates Amid Iran War-Driven Energy Price Surge
Israel Doubles Troops at Lebanon Border, Searches Evacuated Villages
Iran-Israel War Escalates: Cluster Missiles, Nuclear Fears, and Strait of Hormuz Crisis
S&P Affirms Kuwait's AA- Credit Rating Amid Strait of Hormuz Disruption
Asian Markets Rally on AI Optimism Ahead of Fed Decision
Yen Slides Near Two-Year Low as Fed Holds Rates Amid Middle East Tensions
Japan's Military Options in the Strait of Hormuz: What Tokyo Can and Cannot Do
Iran-Israel War Escalates: Energy Infrastructure Attacks Shake Global Oil Markets
Trump Presses Japan to Support Iran War Effort, Cites Pearl Harbor in Surprise Defense
Asian Markets Tumble as BOJ Holds Rates, Oil Surges Past $110
Belarus Frees 250 Political Prisoners in Landmark U.S. Sanctions Deal
Gold Prices Stabilize but Head for Worst Weekly Drop in Six Years Amid Iran War Inflation Fears
Israel Defies Trump's Warning, Launches New Strikes on Iran Amid Growing Global Energy Crisis
Australian PM Albanese Heckled at Sydney Mosque During Eid al-Fitr Prayers
Iran Executes Swedish Citizen Amid Growing Human Rights Concerns
Trump Compares Iran Strikes to Pearl Harbor in Awkward Exchange with Japanese PM
S&P 500 Rebounds After Netanyahu's Statements on Iran's Military Setbacks




