The European Union is considering putting tariffs on U.S. peanut butter, cranberries, orange juice and other agricultural products if the Trump administration carries out its threat to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom told the Guardian that a list of products has been drawn up for retaliation, and said the EU is now just waiting to see what President Trump does.
Those products would be hit along with other U.S. staples like blue jeans, bourbon and motorcycles.
“Certain types of bourbon are on the list, as are other items such as peanut butter, cranberries, orange juice, etc.,” she told the Guardian. “Very soon that list will be public, so you will be able to plan your whisky drinking.”
In a press statement from the European Commission, Malmstrom also urged Trump not to hit European countries with his tariffs, echoing arguments from many Republicans in Congress who also oppose Trump’s plan.
“We still hope, as a USA security partner, that the EU would be excluded,” she said. “We also hope to convince the US administration that this is not the right move.”
She said the main problem in the steel and aluminum sector is global overcapacity generated by “massive state subsidies” in other countries.
“This can only be addressed by cooperation, getting to the source of the problem and working together,” she said.
Trump said last week he would soon impose a 25 percent tariff on all steel imports, and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports.
As of this week, however, the White House has yet to say when the formal decision would come, and Republicans in Congress are working urgently to convince Trump to scale back his plan.
Some Republicans are also considering whether to pass a bill stripping Trump of his authority to impose national security tariffs.
