The green light came in a vote at the official level in Brussels and means that the first retaliatory tariffs can come into force in three stages: next week, mid-May, and early December.
All member states except one are said to have voted yes. Only Hungary opposed.
"Escalation is not the answer", writes Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on X.
Can be frozen
According to leaked information, the EU will impose tariffs on around 1,600 different products from the USA – everything from dental floss and motorcycles to vegetables and steel.
The tariffs are mostly 25 percent and are a response to the steel and aluminum tariffs announced by the USA in early March.
"The EU considers the USA's tariffs to be unfair and harmful, causing economic damage to both sides, as well as to the global economy", it says in a written statement from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
At the same time, she opens up for a quick ceasefire in the trade war.
"These retaliatory measures can be frozen at any time if the USA would agree to a fair and balanced negotiated solution", writes von der Leyen.
Kristersson: The response is proportionate
Sweden voted yes to the introduction. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (The Moderate Party) tells TT that "it was an important decision that the EU now marks in very broad unity".
The EU responds proportionately. Not to harm trade, but to show that the EU is a large and important trading block in the world, with an attempt to reach negotiations with the USA. Now we'll see if it goes that way or not, says Kristersson.
The Prime Minister emphasizes that "of course, the EU should not act in such a way that we would worsen our opportunities also in Europe".
That's why you make well-balanced efforts, i.e., impose tariffs primarily on products that are relatively easy for consumers to replace with other products.
Here are some of the products that the EU, according to leaked information, plans to impose tariffs on in response to the USA's steel and aluminum tariffs:
* soybeans, corn, rice, almonds, nuts, eggs, sausage, and chicken
* vegetables, fruit, cranberries, and orange juice
* ski wear, clothing, and shoes
* tobacco, diamonds, makeup, dental floss, and hair spray
* iron, steel, aluminum, and certain types of boats and vehicles
Sources: M Lex, Politico, Financial Times, Reuters
