The European Union has approved its first set of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, escalating an already tense trade relationship between the two global powers. The move follows what EU officials describe as repeated unfair trade practices by Washington, particularly targeting European manufacturers and exporters.
The tariffs will hit a variety of American goods, including agricultural products and industrial components. EU leaders say the goal isn’t to start a trade war but to push back against measures that put European companies at a disadvantage.
Brussels has been increasingly vocal about what it sees as U.S. protectionism. Recent American subsidies to local industries, especially in green energy and manufacturing, have triggered concerns in Europe that transatlantic trade is becoming less cooperative and more combative.
While both sides have left the door open for negotiation, the EU’s decision to go ahead with tariffs is a sign that patience is running thin. With elections looming on both continents, trade policy has become a political flashpoint—and this move may be just the beginning of a more assertive European approach.
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