Dice, Europe responds to Trump: here are the assets that will be affected. Von der Leyen: « Strong but proportionate measures »

The European Commission launches a series of countermeasures to « protect » companies, workers and European consumers from the impact of the « unjustified commercial restrictions » decided by the United States of America, who today imposed duties up to 25% on imports of steel, aluminum and some products containing steel and aluminum from the European Union and other commercial partners. Brussels « deeply regrets » the measures decided by President Donald Trumpsaid the president of the Ursula von der Leyen commission in a note.

The EU response, which will affect assets worth 26 billion dollars, provides that the suspended counterbalance measures of 2018 and 2020 are reset. On 1 April 2025, the rebalancing measures of 2018 and 2020 will automatically be restored, once their suspension has expired on March 31st.

For the first time, however, these rebalancing measures will be implemented in full: duties on products that go will be applied From boats to bourbon, to American motorcycles, such as Harley Davidson.

Additional measures should enter into force by mid -April and concern a series of industrial and agricultural products. The former include, among others, Steel and aluminum products, fabrics, leather goods, appliances, home tools, plastics, wooden products.

Agricultural products include, among others, poultry, beef, some seafood, walnuts, eggs, dairy products, sugar and vegetables.

«From this morning the United States apply a 25% rate on
imports of steel and aluminum « , comments in a note the president of the European Commission, von der Leyen. «We regret deeply of this measure. Rates are taxes. They are harmful to companies and even worse for consumers. These rates interrupt the supply chains. They bring uncertainty for the economy. Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and the United States. The EU must act to protect consumers and companies. The countermeasures we adopt today are strong but proportionate ».

« Our countermeasures will be introduced into two phases – continues Von der Leyen -. Starting from 1 April and fully operational starting from 13 April. In the meantime, we will always remain open to the negotiations. We firmly believe that in a world full of geopolitical and economic uncertainties it is not in our common interest to weigh our economies with rates. We are ready to engage in a significant dialogue. I commissioned the commissioner for trade Maros Sefcovic to resume his interviews to explore better solutions with the United States ».

President Trump announced in February that he would impose duties, RIn fact, by encouraging the agreements concluded between his predecessor (Joe Biden) and the commercial partners of the United States to allow entry into the country of certain quantities of steel and aluminum without duties. Trump's officials have described the move as a response to foreigners who, according to them, are responsible for the « increase in exports » of metals to America, putting national producers in difficulty.

However, the duties on metals end up being applied to products containing steel and aluminum, such as the Tennis rackets, exercise bikes, furniture and air conditioning systems. Even the Australian Premier Anthony Albanese – representative of an allied country of the USA – has stamped i duties as « completely unjustified » and « against the spirit of lasting friendship » between the nations.

According to the calculations of St Gallen Endowment for Prosperity Through Trade the complete list of steel and aluminum products subject to the duties represented 151 billion dollars of goods imported in 2024.

According to the data of the American Iron and Steel Institute, Five of the ten main steel exporters to the United States are in Asia. Last year, over a third of the US steel imports came from Canada and Mexico. Another fourth came from South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan and China. South Korea was the greatest Asian exporterrepresenting about 10% of the United States steel imports.

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