Published on Feb 24, 2025
Some European Union member states are considering whether to urge the European Commission to invoke a powerful new trade tool in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s reinstatement this month of 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, sources familiar with the matter said.
The EC’s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), which has never been used since it went into force in late 2023, could be rolled out to delay or even prohibit U.S. companies’ proposed acquisitions of European companies. The member states are assessing whether the ACI could counter not only the tariffs but also broader economic pressure exerted by Trump administration trade policies, the sources said.
On Saturday, EC President Ursula von der Leyen issued a strong warning in her first public response to the tariffs, stating that the EU would take immediate countermeasures against what it views as unjustified trade restrictions. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, she emphasized that tariff wars disrupt transatlantic supply chains and drive up costs for businesses and consumers.
The rest of this article is currently locked and only available to subscribers. Request a trial to receive unlimited access to all articles.
