The European Union announced today, Wednesday, the imposition of new "counter" customs measures on U.S. exports to the Union, which will come into effect by mid-next April.  

This comes in response to the United States imposing new tariffs on European Union imports of steel and aluminum, which went into effect today.  

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in a press statement that "the European Union will respond with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros (approximately 28 billion U.S. dollars), proportionate to the scope of the U.S. tariffs imposed. The countermeasures will be implemented in two phases, starting from April 1 and fully effective as of April 13."  

She said, "We deeply regret this measure and know that it harms businesses and, even more so, consumers," warning that these U.S. tariffs "bring uncertainty to the economy, threaten jobs, and raise prices in Europe and the United States."  

She affirmed that the Commission remains open to working with the U.S. administration to find a negotiated solution, stressing that "it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs."  

It is worth noting that the United States announced on February 10 that it would impose tariffs of 25 percent on imports of steel, aluminum, and derived products, covering EU exports to the U.S. worth up to 26 billion euros (approximately 28 billion U.S. dollars).