EU slaps tariffs on US trucks, cigarettes and ice cream to target Trump’s red states

According to an internal document seen by POLITICO, the Commission is considering slapping tariffs of up to 25 per cent on a broad range of exports from the U.S. worth around €22.1 billion based on the EU’s 2024 imports.
The list features run-of-the-mill agricultural and industrial commodities such as soybeans, meat, tobacco, iron, steel, and aluminium — to hit the American sectors that rely most on transatlantic exports.
On Wednesday, EU countries will vote on the new duties, anticipating no significant opposition.
A 25 per cent duty will then kick in from May 16 on a second batch of imported items such as steel, meat, white chocolate, and polyethylene. Finally, a 25 per cent duty on almonds and soybeans will take effect Dec. 1. (Leave it to the Commission to build some suspense.)
According to POLITICO’s analysis of 2024 trade data, EU duties could potentially impact up to $13.5 billion worth of exports from red states.
As a last resort, the bloc could wield its “trade bazooka” to hit U.S. services, which would take the trade war to a whole new level — something not all EU countries are ready to do just yet.

The EU’s response to the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump is less aggressive than expected. He decided to impose so-called reciprocal tariffs on all of America’s trading partners. Yet, it does show some creativity in its bid to hit the U.S. where it will hurt the most.

According to an internal document seen by POLITICO, the Commission is considering slapping tariffs of up to 25 percent. This would apply to a broad range of exports from the U.S. worth around €22.1 billion based on the EU’s 2024 imports.

The list includes standard agricultural and industrial commodities. These include soybeans, meat, tobacco, iron, steel, and aluminum. They target the American sectors that rely most on transatlantic exports.