US President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imports took effect on Wednesday, expanding to downstream products and prompting swift global backlash. The European Union (EU) condemned the move as "unjustified" and announced countermeasures worth up to €26 billion to match the economic impact. "The EU will protect its consumers and businesses," the European Commission stated in a post on X. European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the EU had no choice but to respond, adding that previously suspended rebalancing measures would be reinstated on April 1, with additional countermeasures to follow. "The disruption is avoidable. We're ready to negotiate," he stated on X. Canada, Britain, and Australia also criticised the decision, while China and Japan warned of economic consequences. China's foreign ministry stated that Beijing would take all necessary steps to protect its rights and interests, while Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary warned that the move could significantly affect US-Japan economic relations. US steelmakers welcomed the tariffs, but financial markets showed volatility. Canada, the largest affected supplier, is considering retaliatory measures as business confidence in the US continues to decline. Attribution: Reuters, Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
