European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday vowed that US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, “will not go unanswered.”
“I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports,” European Commission president von der Leyen said in a statement, according to news agency AFP.
“Unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered they will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures. The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers,” she added.
Despite cautions from European and Chinese authorities, Trump authorised executive directives implementing 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports effective March 12.
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic criticised the decision stating that it was “a lose–lose scenario”, warning that tariffs were “economically counterproductive”.
“By imposing tariffs, the US will be taxing its own citizens, raising costs for its own business, and fuelling inflation,” Sefcovic told the EU parliament France.
Earlier in an executive order, Trump asserted: “As of March 12, 2025, all imports of aluminum articles and derivative aluminium articles from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, EU countries, and the UK shall be subject to the additional ad valorem tariff.”
Trump issued a separate order on steel tariffs, extending them to Brazil, Japan, and South Korea, in addition to the countries already targeted under the aluminium tariffs.
He also hinted at further trade measures, suggesting potential additional customs duties on cars, pharmaceuticals, and computer chips.
During his first presidency in 2018, Trump imposed similar tariffs on steel and aluminium exports, prompting the European Union to retaliate with higher duties of its own.
The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU also criticised the move, warning that the decision would have “have a wide-reaching and overwhelmingly negative impact on jobs, prosperity and security on both sides of the Atlantic”.
