Overview of current additional tariffs
Since 12 March 2025, additional tariffs of 25% have been imposed on imports of steel and aluminium products originating in almost all countries, with the exception of goods covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The list of affected goods has now been expanded to include canned beer and empty aluminium cans, which particularly affects beer producers in the Netherlands. In addition, further additional tariffs of 25% now apply to motor vehicles. Further additional tariffs on motor vehicle parts and agricultural goods have already been announced by the US government.
In addition, since 5 April 2025, an additional duty of 10% has been imposed on almost all imports of goods from almost all countries on the basis of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). For the EU, the additional duty on imports of goods into the US has been increased from 10% to 20%. Furthermore, these reciprocal tariffs have even been raised to up to 50% for certain countries. A list of country-specific reciprocal tariff rates was published in Annex I of Executive Order 14257 of 2 April 2025, and a list of goods excluded from the scope of application was published in Annex II. In addition, exemptions are standardised, such as the exemption for goods already subject to additional tariffs based on Section 232.
EU countermeasures
The European Union is now also responding to the US tariffs on steel and aluminium. The EU Commission announced that countermeasures are planned from 15 April 2025. It emphasised that the counter-tariffs could be suspended at any time if the US agrees to a fair and balanced negotiation outcome.
According to the EU Commission, special tariffs on jeans and motorcycles from the US, among other things, are to come into force next week. Further counter-tariffs are then to be imposed in mid-May and at the end of the year – affecting, among other things, foodstuffs such as beef, poultry and citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit. Additional tariffs on nuts and soybeans are then to be introduced at the beginning of December 2025. Contrary to the original plan, there will be no additional tariffs on American whisky and other alcoholic beverages for the time being.
There are also repeated calls from the public to boycott US products. However, it should be borne in mind that, due to the interconnectedness of supply chains, suppliers from the EU may also be affected by the boycott in case of doubt.
Links:
Waren, auf die möglicherweise Zölle erhoben werden
EO zu den reziproken Zöllen
EO zu den Zöllen auf weitere Aluminiumprodukte
EO zu Zöllen auf KfZ
Sources:
Circabc
Federal Register
Commission proposal to impose trade countermeasures against US obtains necessary support from EU Member States
EU-Staaten beschließen erste Gegenzölle (Tagesschau vom 9. April)