The EU will introduce its first retaliatory measures against Trump’s tariffs on April 15

Ane Barcos The European Union will begin its response to the tariffs imposed by the United States with the entry into force of a first package of measures on April 15, followed by another on May 15. The vote on the countermeasures, scheduled for this Wednesday, April 9, was confirmed by European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, following the Foreign Affairs Council held this Monday in Luxembourg, which addressed the consequences of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on European products. During the meeting, convened on an extraordinary basis by the Polish Presidency due to the magnitude of the situation, the EU's planned countermeasures were discussed. These countermeasures will be sent to Member States for review, with a vote scheduled for April 9 and final adoption on April 15. The additional tariffs will be implemented in two phases: the first on April 15 and the second on May 15, affecting a wide variety of products. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Michał Baranowski, present at the meeting, emphasized that the tariffs imposed by the United States were the highest in a century, stressing that, although they affected American consumers, their impact was not limited to Europe but also affected other countries globally. In this regard, Baranowski emphasized the unity of the EU, noting that all member states agreed on the importance of resolving the conflict through negotiations, avoiding reciprocal measures that could further escalate tensions. "We would all prefer a negotiated solution that would keep us away from a potential trade war," he said. For his part, Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade, emphasized that more than 70% of EU exports to the United States were affected, representing a value of €380 billion. He also noted that, due to these tariffs, US revenue from tariffs had increased to more than €80 billion, an 11-fold increase from the previous €7 billion. "We're talking about around 70% of our total exports facing tariffs of 20%, 25%, or even higher," Šefčovič emphasized. Although the EU remains open to negotiation, Šefčovič made it clear that it will not wait indefinitely to achieve substantial progress. "We will not wait indefinitely," he stated, explaining that, as long as no progress is made in the negotiations, the European Union will continue to defend its interests through countermeasures. These measures will be complemented by a trade diversification strategy with countries outside the United States, as well as heightened import surveillance. The Commissioner also addressed the EU's relationship with China, particularly with regard to Chinese investments in the electric vehicle supply chain in Europe, an area that could contribute to improving competitiveness and generating jobs on the continent. In this context, he stressed the importance of balancing the trade relationship with China, addressing issues such as overcapacity and market access barriers. "We are discussing long-standing key issues, such as overcapacity and subsidies, and the need to level the playing field for EU companies in China," he concluded.

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