Following the additional customs duties imposed by the United States, the European Union announced that it will implement retaliatory measures worth 26 billion euros. The European Union (EU) Commission stated that the new steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the US were deemed unjust, leading to the initiation of “swift and proportionate” retaliatory measures. The statement highlighted that the US customs duties decision would disrupt transatlantic trade, harm businesses and consumers, and result in higher prices. It was reported that the EU Commission would carefully adjust a two-stage response to the new tariffs, with the first stage involving the activation of previously prepared and suspended retaliatory measures targeting a series of US products worth 8 billion euros, set to come into effect on April 1st. The statement also mentioned that the second stage, set to take effect on April 13th, would include new measures corresponding to over 18 billion euros of EU exports affected by US tariffs. The announcement emphasized that the retaliatory measures would target US products worth 26 billion euros in economic scope equivalent to the US tariffs, highlighting the EU’s readiness to negotiate a solution and retract measures if the issue is resolved. The US imposition of 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports came into effect on March 12th (as of today).