The European Union has retaliated against US tariffs

Vytvorené dňa: 09.07.2025      Aktualizované dňa: 09.07.2025

On 12 March 2025, the United States reimposed tariffs of 25% on European imports. In response, the European Commission has presented a proposal for a regulation activating countervailing duties on more than 1,600 items, totalling almost €21 billion of imports into Europe.

The aim is to provide a balanced and targeted response that protects the interests of European businesses, preserves the rules of international trade, and minimises the negative impact on European consumers.

„Europe does not want a trade war, and we are not trying to escalate the situation. Our only aim is to respond appropriately to the US's unjustified actions. When selecting the goods on which to impose duties, we mainly chose items for which there is an alternative on the market outside the US. Therefore, the impact of European tariffs on European consumers should not be substantial," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Denisa Sakova.

The retaliatory measures affect more than 1,600 goods, with a total import value from the US of almost €21 billion. The list includes domestic consumer goods, certain technical metals and selected agricultural commodities, for example. When selecting the goods, emphasis was placed on their potential substitution with supplies from other markets. By doing so, the EU aimed to avoid measures that could lead to further escalation of the trade dispute.

According to the available data, the new tariffs will affect goods imported into the Slovak market worth around €140 million. These goods are mainly products such as cranberries, playing cards, barrels, carpentry products, rear-view mirrors for cars, lawnmowers, printed matter, and some household appliances. However, as these items are not strategically important imports, the Ministry does not expect the measures to have a significant impact on the Slovak economy or domestic consumers.

„This package of retaliatory tariffs is not yet a response to the tariffs on automobiles and the blanket tariffs on all European products sold in America.The way we will definitively respond to these tariffs is yet to be negotiated,“ added Denisa Sakova.

These measures send a clear signal that the European Union is ready to protect the interests of its member states while seeking to de-escalate the situation and engage in constructive dialogue with the US to reach a sustainable and fair solution to trade disputes.

The press department MoE SR

Zdroj: http://www.mhsr.sk/press/the-european-union-has-retaliated-against-us-tariffs