U.S. allies hit back as Trump administration imposes metals tariffs
The U.S. raised tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 25% as President Trump digs in on trade policies that have rocked financial markets.
The Trump administration raised tariffs on global steel and aluminum imports to 25% Wednesday as President Donald Trump and his administration dig in on trade policies that have rocked financial markets.
Allies of the U.S., such as the European Union, responded in kind with a hail of criticism and reciprocal tariffs. The E.U. announced retaliatory tariffs early Wednesday on $28 billion worth of a wide range of U.S. goods imported to Europe such as boats, motorbikes and alcohol.
Trump announced the tariffs last month and the White House said Wednesday that there would be no exceptions.
“President Trump has once again used the leverage of the American economy, which is the best and biggest in the world, to deliver a win for the American people,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.
Calling the new U.S. tariffs “unjustified,” the European Commission said that the levies would kick in on April 1, with additional countermeasures introduced in mid-April.
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