The European Union has launched a dispute with the World Trade Organisation against the US 'reciprocal' tariffs and tariffs on cars and car parts and a consultation on potential goods to target for countermeasures.
Talks on a potential trade deal between Brussels and Washington are ongoing, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, but the new measures announced were a sign that the Commission will continue "preparing for all possibilities".
This includes readying potential countermeasures, with a public consultation launched today on a list of US imports that could become subject to EU tariffs if talks are not successful.
"Tariffs are already having a negative impact on the global economies. The EU remains fully committed to finding negotiated outcomes with the US," von der Leyen said.
The consultation concerns a list of US imports worth €95 billion, covering a broad range of industrial and agricultural products, while also consulting on possible restrictions on certain EU exports of steel scrap and chemical products to the US worth €4.4 billion.
On the WTO dispute, the EU said its unequivocal view is that "these tariffs blatantly violate fundamental WTO rules".