EC statement on potential imposition of US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium

At this stage, the European Commission (EC) has not not received any official notification regarding the imposition of additional tariffs on EU goods, the EC said on February 10.

The BBC reported on February 10 that US President Donald Trump is expected to unveil a fresh swathe of tariffs this week, including 25 per cent on all steel and aluminium imports.

The EC said: “We will not respond to broad announcements without details or written clarification”.

The EU sees no justification for the imposition of tariffs on its exports, the statement said.

”We will react to protect the interests of European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified measures.”

In general, the EC said, the imposition of tariffs would be unlawful and economically counterproductive, especially given the deeply integrated production chains the EU and US established through Transatlantic trade and investment.

“Tariffs are essentially taxes,” the EC said.

“By imposing tariffs, the US would be taxing its own citizens, raising costs for business, and fuelling inflation.”

Moreover, tariffs heighten economic uncertainty and disrupt the efficiency and integration of global markets, the Commission said.

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