The US is to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from allies in Europe and North America. The US said a 25% tax on steel and 10% tax on aluminium from the EU, Mexico and Canada will start at midnight. The move immediately triggered vows of retaliation from Mexico and the EU, which called the tariffs "protectionism, pure and simple".
US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told reporters on Thursday that a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminium imports from the EU, Canada and Mexico would indeed go into effect at midnight after those countries were unable to make a deal with the US ahead of a Friday deadline.
"We look forward to continued negotiations, both with Canada and Mexico on the one hand, and with the European Commission on the other hand, because there are other issues that we also need to get resolved," Ross said.
In response, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called the news “unacceptable...protectionism, pure and simple," and promised to announce "counterbalancing" measures within hours.
In retaliatory measures, Mexico was the first country hit by the tariffs to announce its response.
The country's Economy Ministry said that it would put penalties on US products including steel sheets, lamps, pork leg and shoulder, sausages, apples, grapes and different types of cheese until the price comes to a total comparable to the losses that the US tariffs will cause in Mexico.
