The European Union is preparing to impose up to €100 billion ($113 billion) in tariffs on U.S. goods if ongoing trade negotiations collapse.
A draft list of retaliatory measures is expected to be shared with EU member states this week, triggering a one-month consultation period before any tariffs are finalized.
“These import taxes are unjustified and economically damaging for both sides of the Atlantic,” said EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. “This situation is unacceptable, and the EU cannot afford to remain passive.”
The EU had previously held back €21 billion in planned tariffs after the U.S. agreed to reduce its own duties as a goodwill gesture during talks. However, negotiations—which gained momentum last month—have made little progress.
According to Bloomberg, the EU has offered to eliminate tariffs on industrial goods and ramp up imports of U.S. products like liquefied natural gas (LNG) and soybeans. The U.S., however, has remained focused on digital tax policies and EU tech regulations, rejecting the EU’s proposals.
A new proposal from the European Commission is expected later this week in an attempt to restart talks.
The EU’s latest tariff strategy aims to target economically significant U.S. exports without disrupting its own supply chains. Previous EU responses have focused on politically sensitive American goods, such as soybeans from states like Louisiana.
Currently, the U.S. imposes 10–25% tariffs on roughly €380 billion worth of EU exports—about 70% of the bloc’s total exports to the United States. In 2024, the EU recorded a goods trade surplus of €198.2 billion with the U.S., though that figure drops to €48 billion when services are factored in.
“This is the moment to act decisively in defense of the EU’s economic interests,” Sefcovic told European lawmakers.
