Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Ville Tavio (Finns), emphasized the necessity of EU unity regarding the matter.
Image: Esa Syväkuru / Yle, Linus Hoffman / Yle, Henrietta Hassinen / Yle
The EU is set to unveil its initial countermeasures against tariffs proposed by the United States, as disclosed by Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio (Finns).
Tavio addressed reporters at a press conference after a gathering of EU trade ministers in Luxembourg on Monday afternoon.
Recently, US President Donald Trump revealed expansive tariff proposals targeting goods and services from the EU and numerous global trading partners. The 10-percent “baseline” tariff on imports from various countries initiated over the weekend while EU nations now face a 20-percent levy.
This shift has caused a significant downturn in global markets.
The European Commission is currently preparing to present the suggested countermeasures to EU member states. Initial reports hinted that these tariff countermeasures would target US products and brands, including American whiskey, Levi’s apparel, and Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Tavio mentioned that the counteractions should not disproportionately affect any member state. He also stated that products essential for security and energy production would be exempt from any potential counter-tariffs.
He reiterated the importance of EU solidarity on this issue, insisting that no state would benefit from straying from the collective EU stance.
Prior to Monday’s meeting of EU ministers, Tavio remarked in a government release that the EU would implement robust and appropriate countermeasures when necessary to safeguard consumers and businesses across the bloc.