EU threatens tariffs on planes, whiskey and even snails in trade clash with US

Brussels: The European Union has drawn up a sweeping list of US goods that could face retaliatory tariffs should ongoing trade negotiations with Washington fail, with products ranging from aircraft and cars to whiskey, camels, and even Christmas trees.

The 202-page document, reportedly shared with EU member states on Monday, outlines potential levies on US imports worth €72 billion ($84 billion).

The list includes high-value items such as American-made planes, chemicals, electrical equipment, and automobiles, as well as a diverse array of other goods, including live bees, parrots, condoms, opium, and snails.

The European Commission renewed its push for a deal on Tuesday, with Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic scheduled to hold talks with his US counterpart Jamieson Greer, following discussions the previous day with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Brussels hopes for ‘good outcome’

Commission spokesperson Olof Gill confirmed the ongoing discussions, saying that a technical team from the Commission, which handles trade policy for the 27-nation bloc, was already en route to Washington.

"We are in the most sensitive stage of those negotiations right now, working towards getting an agreement in principle over the line before the deadline," Gill told reporters.

"We wouldn't be engaging in negotiations if we didn't think those negotiations could lead to a good outcome. So clearly, we think that an agreement in principle, as we have said, is within reach."

Trump threatens 30% tariffs

US President Donald Trump reignited tensions at the weekend by announcing that the US would impose a 30 percent tariff on EU goods from 1 August if no trade agreement was reached. The surprise ultimatum came after months of EU-US talks that many had hoped would avert a damaging trade war between two of the world’s largest economies.

Prior to Trump’s warning, Brussels had been aiming to finalise a deal last week to head off the tariff hike.

Second round of tariffs in the wings

The new list of potential EU retaliatory tariffs would be in addition to a previous package worth €21 billion, which was prepared after the Trump administration imposed duties on EU steel and aluminium. That initial package has been suspended until early August to allow for negotiations to continue.

Gill emphasised that no final decision would be made on implementing the second round of tariffs before the 1 August deadline.

Resistance within the bloc

Some products on the new list, such as bourbon whiskey, had previously faced opposition from member states like France and Italy, who were concerned about potential countermeasures affecting European wine and spirits exports.

Nonetheless, the inclusion of such items underlines the bloc’s readiness to respond decisively should trade talks break down.

AFP inputs