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EU Votes on Retaliatory Tariffs as Trade Dispute with U.S. Escalates

The European Union prepares to counter President Trump's tariffs with measures targeting U.S. goods and politically sensitive exports.

Model of LNG tanker is seen in front of the U.S. flag in this illustration taken May 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for the weekly college of commissioners meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
US President Donald Trump arrives to pose for a family photo with participants of the G7 summit during the Summit of the Heads of State and of Government of the G7, the group of most industrialized economies, plus the European Union, on May 27, 2017 in Taormina, Sicily. The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the US and Italy will be joined by representatives of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as teams from Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria and Tunisia during the summit from May 26 to 27, 2017. (Photo by JONATHAN ERNST / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN ERNST/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • European Union member states are voting today on imposing retaliatory tariffs on $22 billion worth of U.S. goods, with initial measures set to take effect on April 15.
  • The EU is considering targeting products from U.S. red states, such as soybeans, ice cream, and cigarettes, to strategically impact Trump's political base.
  • President Trump rejected the EU's 'zero-for-zero' tariff offer and demanded $350 billion in U.S. energy purchases to address the trade deficit.
  • EU policymakers are advancing plans to lower mandatory natural gas storage targets, aiming to reduce economic pressure from expensive energy imports.
  • The EU is exploring demand aggregation for liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases to strengthen its negotiating position in trade talks with the U.S.