Imposing the tariffs is likely to trigger a forceful reaction from Brussels. Steel and aluminum are at the center of an unresolved dispute between Washington and Brussels dating back to 2018, when Trump imposed tariffs that were later suspended.
The EU’s retaliatory tariffs on bourbon whiskey, motorbikes and cranberry juice were paused during the Joe Biden administration. The truce is expected to lapse on the European side at the end of March.
Labeling the tariffs as unlawful is paving the way for the EU to respond according to its usual rulebook, including by launching a challenge at the World Trade Organization or deploying safeguard measures.
France, meanwhile, already urged Brussels to react to Trump’s threats, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot telling the European Commission that “the time has come.”
The European Commission “has assured us that it would have been ready to pull it out when the time came. The time has come,” he said. “We should not hesitate when defending our interests.”
Just moments before Trump vowed to hit steel and aluminum imports, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the EU can act “within an hour” if Trump makes good on his tariff promises.
avid_indoors_man on February 10th, 2025 at 12:26 UTC »
The French response has seemed really strong. Respect.
CamDane on February 10th, 2025 at 10:53 UTC »
Would it be possible to tariff advertising on US media? So ads on Facebook, Twitter, Google, Amazon (as in putting products on their marketplace for a fee) and so on? Sounds like the sort of thing that would annoy some major backers of Trump?
MrRoboto12345 on February 10th, 2025 at 10:34 UTC »
Top 5 US imports from France according to TradingEconomics
Machinery and nuclear reactors - $10.59B Air and spacecraft - $6.22B Drinks and vinegar - $5.09B Essential oils and cosmetics - $4.36B Pharmaceuticals - $4.29B