“BRUSSELS -- The European Union is readying a fresh list of American products -- ranging from aircraft to alcoholic beverages, coffee and medical devices -- to hit with retaliatory tariffs if a trade deal isn't reached by President Trump's Aug. 1 deadline.
EU officials on Monday unveiled the list after Trump's latest tariff threat over the weekend revived a debate in the bloc over whether it should fight back -- and how forcefully -- if the two sides can't reach a deal.
The EU in April froze an initial package of retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. after Trump said he would limit blanket tariffs on most countries to 10% for 90 days. The new EU list, circulated to the bloc's 27 member states and viewed by The Wall Street Journal, covers American imports that were together valued at roughly $84 billion last year.
The list covers about $77 billion worth of industrial imports including aircraft, machinery, automotive products, chemicals, plastics and medical devices. It also covers about $7 billion worth of agricultural and food products including fruits and vegetables, wine, beer and spirits.
European officials are debating what would trigger those tariffs, and whether to go further by preparing additional measures that could put levies or other restrictions on American services, not just physical goods.
The EU's approach to U.S. tariffs is getting renewed attention this week after Trump sent a letter to the bloc threatening to impose 30% blanket tariffs on European imports beginning Aug. 1. The move surprised EU officials who thought they were close to a preliminary agreement with the U.S.
Trump on Monday said that "the deals are already made. The letters are the deals. . .There are no deals to make." He added that recipients of his letters "would like to do a different kind of a deal, and we're always open to talk. . .including to Europe."
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said Monday that a 30% tariff would be "effectively prohibitive" to trade between the two economies. He said he would continue to talk with U.S. officials. "I cannot imagine walking away without genuine effort," he said.
But Sefcovic added that ministers from the EU's 27 member states who met in Brussels on Monday were clear that if no deal could be reached, the bloc would need to take steps to protect the economy by imposing what he referred to as rebalancing measures on the U.S.
During the EU meeting, shortly before Trump's comments at the White House, the view that the bloc must respond if it can't reach an agreement "was the strongest I've witnessed since we started the discussion with the U.S.," Sefcovic said. "Everything is on the table, but we'll take it step by step."
One way to demonstrate the bloc's power, some European officials argue, is through an untested legal tool known as the anticoercion instrument, which could allow for levies on American services, among other measures.
U.S. services exports to the EU include financial services and digital products such as online advertising.
Other options under the anticoercion instrument include restricting American companies' intellectual property rights in Europe or making it harder for them to participate in public tenders.” [1]
1. U.S. News: EU Has Retaliation List if No Trade Deal. Kim Mackrael. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 15 July 2025: A2.
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