A chill has settled over global trade—and the temperature just dropped again.
As the dust from President Trump’s economic blitz still swirls, the European Union has answered with fire. Starting next week, the EU will hit back with tariffs up to 25% on a wide swath of American goods. This isn’t diplomacy. This is retaliation. Cold. Calculated. Inevitable.
Steel, Aluminum, and a Warning Shot
It began with steel and aluminum—materials that build nations and break economies. President Trump, citing years of so-called “abuse,” slapped 25% duties on EU metals in March. He then escalated again, imposing 20% tariffs on all EU exports as part of his self-declared “Liberation Day” campaign—his promise to “free” the U.S. from unfair trade practices.
But liberation, it seems, has a price.
Europe Unleashes the Counterstrike
Now, the EU is hitting back. Hard.
Though the European Commission has kept the precise list of targets under wraps, leaked documents reveal a chilling lineup: poultry, grains, metals, and clothing. Everyday items, yes—but they’re just pawns in a much darker game. Most of the U.S. goods will be slapped with 25% tariffs, with a few escaping with only 10%.
These are not random picks. These are pressure points, carefully chosen to wound American industries while avoiding all-out war—for now.
The EU’s countermeasures will kick in on April 15, a date that will now be remembered not just for taxes—but for the day Europe chose to fight back.
A Brewing Trade War—and a Broken Alliance
There was barely any opposition inside the EU—only Hungary stood apart as 26 other nations locked arms and gave the green light. A united Europe, fueled by anger and wounded pride, is now weaponizing trade.
An EU official warned the U.S. tariffs are “unjustified and damaging,” with consequences that echo far beyond the Atlantic. This isn’t just about economics anymore. It’s about global order—or the unraveling of it.
Even now, in the background, a second retaliatory package is being forged. This one will address Trump’s latest wave: 20% tariffs on everything, and 25% on European cars—a move that could cripple Germany’s auto industry and spark economic aftershocks across the continent.
Bourbon Spared, But for How Long?
Curiously, bourbon was removed from the EU’s hit list after pressure from France, Ireland, and Italy. Trump had warned that targeting it would provoke a monstrous 200% tariff on European alcohol.
So, the whiskey lives—for now. But make no mistake: nothing is off the table anymore.
“They Rip Us Off”
That’s Trump’s refrain. He calls Europe “tough traders,” accuses them of sucking $200 billion a year in value-added taxes from American businesses, and has vowed more “corrective” actions if Europe dares to retaliate.
Well, Europe just did.
A Global Economy on the Edge
Markets are trembling. Investors whisper the word “recession.” Tensions between allies are turning to economic trench warfare, with retaliation stacked upon retaliation. Every tariff is a threat. Every silence is a warning.
As Europe and America move deeper into this economic darkness, one thing is becoming clear:
This isn’t just trade.
This is a reckoning.
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