EU's first strike against Trump tariffs: Soyabean, motorcycles among over 20 billion Euros of US goods slapped with duties

First it was China, now it’s Europe. The EU has officially rolled out a fresh wave of retaliatory tariffs on the United States , targeting over €20 billion worth of American goods, from soybeans to beauty products, as tensions reignite over long-standing US duties on steel and aluminium.

Announced on Wednesday, the European Commission ’s decision marks the bloc’s first direct retaliation to President Donald Trump ’s trade measures, some of which had been simmering on the back burner since his first term. The EU’s move, backed by 26 member states (with Hungary the lone holdout), comes as Washington has yet to back down from tariffs that Brussels says are “unjustified and damaging.”

What’s getting hit?
The EU’s new tariff list reads like a who’s who of American exports:

• Soybeans and other agricultural staples like rice, corn, poultry, and nuts
• Motorcycles, textiles, plastics, wood, and electrical equipment
• Even beauty products and paintings aren't safe

Tariffs on some goods will kick in starting April 15, while others are scheduled to follow in May and December.

Brussels says it’s retaliating not just against the old steel and aluminium tariffs, but also Trump’s recent 25% levy on EU car imports and new “reciprocal” tariffs he announced earlier this year. So far, Washington has shown no sign of backing down.

“The EU considers US tariffs unjustified and damaging,” the Commission added, warning that continued escalation could harm both economies and the global trade system.