Harris urges caution and dialogue as EU plans retaliatory tariffs on US goods

The EU retaliates against Trump’s steel tariffs with €26bn in countermeasures, escalating a global trade war with the US

Simon Harris says that time and consideration must be taken before implementing the tariffs. Picture: PA

Europe must be "calm" and take its time when considering retaliatory tariffs on the US, the Tánaiste has said.

The EU has announced it will impose trade “countermeasures” on up to €26bn worth of US goods in retaliation for Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, escalating a global trade war.

However, Simon Harris says that time and consideration must be taken before implementing the tariffs, which are a reaction to the 25% US levies on global imports of these metals.

The retaliatory measures include Brussels reimposing tariffs on US goods such as bourbon whiskey, jeans, and Harley-Davidson motorbikes, which were introduced during Trump's first term and later suspended after talks with his successor, Joe Biden.

These tariffs, which target notable US goods worth €4.5bn, often from Republican states, will come into force on April 1. 

The list was worth €6.3bn in 2018 but has shrunk because of Brexit and declining US exports.

Trucks line up to enter a Port of Oakland shipping terminal on Nov. 10, 2021, in Oakland, California. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

Speaking today, Mr Harris said that the EU and US must use the time until April to discuss the plan in an effort to avoid damaging tariffs.

"It's very regrettable to see the imposition of any tariffs, but it is important that we remind ourselves of this fact; there are now a period of weeks when the European Union wants to engage intensively with the United States before introducing any retaliatory tariffs," he said.

"The EU-US economic relationship is interdependent, doing trade with each other, doing business, and is good for jobs and for citizens on both sides of the Atlantic. And something Ireland will be very eager to put across to the EU and the US is, of course, the need to try and find a way forward. 

"We're proud members of the European Union, we believe that the European Union is right now to take the approach of saying, let's engage. Let's not get into a tit for tat situation of tariffs. Let's instead find a way forward."