The European Union's first countermeasures against tariffs on imports of European goods into the United States will come into force next week. This was agreed by EU countries, Reuters reported.
EU exports of steel, aluminum and cars to the United States face 25 percent tariffs, and almost all other European goods face 20 percent tariffs.
The European Union will impose tariffs of mainly 25 percent on a range of US imports from next Tuesday, April 15, in response to US tariffs on steel and aluminum. Member states are still negotiating the most appropriate response to the tariffs on European car exports, as well as the broader 20 percent levies.
The list of US goods that will be subject to higher tariffs in the EU includes corn, wheat, barley, rice, motorcycles, poultry, fruit, wood, clothing and dental floss, according to a document seen by Reuters.
The total value of these products was about 21 billion euros ($23 billion) last year.
The corresponding duties will come into effect in stages - for some goods from April 15, for others from May 16, and finally for almonds and soybeans - from 1 December.
"These countermeasures can be suspended at any time if the US agrees to a fair and balanced outcome to the negotiations", the European Commission said in a statement.
A committee of EU trade experts voted on the measures proposed by the EC today. EU officials said 26 EU member states voted "in favour" the proposal, with only Hungary voting "against".
The result of the vote was widely expected, given that the EC had already discussed the issue with EU countries and had refined the initial list presented in mid-March, removing dairy and alcoholic beverages from the US.
Major wine exporters France and Italy expressed concern after Trump threatened to hit EU wine and spirits with a 200 percent tariff if the EU goes ahead with its plans to tax US bourbon imports by 50 percent.