The president of the European Commission is condemning President Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on foreign steel and aluminum and pledging to retaliate.
Ursula von der Leyen said tariffs are taxes that are bad for business and “worse for consumers.”
“Unjustified tariffs on the EU will not go unanswered — they will trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures,” Ms. von der Leyen said late Monday.
Her commission is the executive arm of the European Union.
“The EU will act to safeguard its economic interests. We will protect our workers, businesses and consumers,” she said.
Ms. von der Leyen got a chance to address the situation directly on Tuesday with Vice President J.D. Vance, who is on a European trip.
Their conversation occurred behind closed doors, though Ms. von der Leyen was cordial afterward.
“Thank you for a good discussion on our shared challenges as allies. From security and stability to the great promise of technology and the critical challenge of non-market overcapacity,” she wrote on X. “Looking forward to continued cooperation with [Mr. Trump] and you.”
Before the meeting, Mr. Vance said he looked forward to building a strong economic and security relationship “that’s good for both, Europe and the United States.”
Tariffs are a tax or duty paid by importers on the goods they bring in from foreign markets.
Mr. Trump says tariffs force companies to return to America or keep their operations in the U.S., employ American workers and create revenue to fund domestic programs.
The president is trying to protect U.S. steelworkers by making foreign steel more expensive.
A top Canadian official called the tariffs “totally unjustified.”
“Our response will be clear and calibrated. We will continue to stand up for Canada, support our workers and defend our industries as we have always done and always will,” said François-Philippe Champagne, the minister for Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada.
The tariffs are part of an aggressive trade agenda in Mr. Trump’s first weeks, including a broad 10% tariff on Chinese goods and threats to impose higher levies on Canada and Mexico if they don’t crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Later this week, Mr. Trump plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on nations that tax U.S. goods, which could drag the U.S. and EU into a trade war.
Some tariff gripes are coming from within the U.S.
Beer companies said the aluminum tariffs will raise their costs.
“Our craft breweries could see a $10.2 million increase in packaging costs, testing their already delicate supply chains and razor-thin margins,” the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild said on X. “Ultimately, our small brewery owners and customers will pay the price.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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