The support from member states at a technical meeting in Brussels was approved, with Hungary's sole vote against, according to diplomatic sources.
The EU-27 on Wednesday gave the green light to the first round of tariffs designed by Brussels to respond to the tariff war launched by US President Donald Trump. This formal step will allow the EU to adopt 25% surcharges on €21 billion (US$22.989 billion) in purchases from the United States next Monday in retaliation for also imposing a 25% tax on European-made steel and aluminum.
The support from member states at a technical meeting in Brussels was approved, with Hungary's sole vote against, according to diplomatic sources.
Hungary's own Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, has said on social media that he is voting against the measure because he believes tariffs "are not the answer" and will "further damage" the European economy.
The package will be phased in over three stages—April, May, and December—and will affect a wide range of items, from basics like eggs and toilet paper to steel and aluminum products, textiles, cosmetics, and video games, for example.
With these countermeasures, the EU is responding to Washington's initial tariffs, but its response to the massive 20% tariffs on all imports and 25% on cars and components that EU services are finalizing and plan to present next week, to be implemented in May if the United States does not agree to negotiate a solution to the trade war, is still pending.
However, neither bourbon nor American wines will ultimately be included in this first batch, as France and other delegations pressured Brussels to withdraw them, fearing that Trump would follow through on his threat to retaliate with a surcharge of "up to 200%" on European wines, champagnes, and other spirits.
Thus, the European Union will be able to begin collecting tariffs on products from April 15th, which were already applied during the previous crisis in 2018 (and from which bourbon and wines have been removed).
In this first phase, for example, are some fresh and preserved fruits and vegetables, dried legumes, tobacco, toilet paper, rolled steel, and motorcycles such as those from the Harley-Davidson brand.
In the second phase of this round, which will be activated on May 16, the 25% tax will be imposed on food products such as eggs, poultry and beef, vegetable oils such as sunflower or palm oil, margarine, cookies, sugar, and citrus fruits.
This item also includes surcharges for purchases of costume jewelry, plastics, steel and aluminum parts, wood, and textiles.
Finally, the third phase of the package approved this Wednesday by the 27 will be activated on December 1 and will affect soybean crops and shelled and shelled almonds.
