EU prepares strong response to possible 30% US tariffs — Reuters

According to Reuters, France and Germany are weighing possible countermeasures against the US if talks with the Trump administration fail to produce an agreement. Among the steps under discussion are restricting American companies' access to the EU market, imposing trade barriers, and tightening foreign direct investment regulations.

The deadline to resolve the dispute is August 1. By that date, the White House has threatened to impose 30% tariffs. Donald Trump has repeatedly accused the bloc of unfair commercial practices. In 2024, EU-US trade reached €1.68 trillion ($1.97 trillion), with the European Union running a surplus of €50 billion ($58.71 billion).

The bloc is pushing for a baseline duty of 10%. If higher rates are imposed, Brussels is prepared to retaliate with counter-tariffs targeting €116 billion ($136 billion) worth of American goods, along with new fees on service exports. Reuters reports that the EU is likely to start with moderate levies, keeping tougher measures in reserve should tensions escalate further.