EU tariffs
US products such as whiskey and jeans could become more expensive
The EU reacts to the new US tariffs and announces countermeasures. This is expected to have noticeable consequences for consumers in Germany.
Peanut butter, whiskey, orange juice: Consumers in Germany will soon have to dig deeper into their pockets for some American products in the supermarket. The reason for this is the planned EU extracölle. It can be assumed that the higher costs will be passed on to customers proportionately, said the President of the Foreign Trade Association BGA, Dirk Jandura. The margins are so low in the trade that this cannot be collected by the entrepreneurs.
In response to the US tariffs that came into force to steel and aluminum imports, the EU has announced countermeasures. From April in a first step, extra oils on the import of bourbon whiskey, jeans, motorcycles, boats, orange juice, peanut butter, soy and numerous other American products should be due. The height varies depending on the product group. Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced in the United States are around 50 percent of the additional tariffs, 10 percent for video game consoles, and 25 percent for others.
In some cases, import duties affected consumer prices, said the President of the Federal Association of German Food Trade (BVLH), Björn Fromm. “This is poison in the current situation. Trade and consumers benefit from the free goods traffic. In the end, trade wars only know losers.”
Fashion association: USA not an important country of manufacturers for jeans
Already during the first term of the American President Donald Trump, the EU had previously countered US taxes on products from Europe with its own extracols. Back then, Bourbon-Whiskey was also affected. Subsequently, corresponding products were more expensive in Europe. Whiskey exports to the EU then decreased by 20 percent between 2018 and 2021, according to trade circles. The EU is considered the largest export market for US Whiskeys.
With Jeans, the fashion association Germany considers the effects to be manageable. Products that come directly from the USA played a major role on the Jeans market in Germany, said a spokeswoman. The most important manufacturer countries are China, Bangladesh and Turkey. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the import value for jeans from the USA was only a good three million euros in 2024.
In mid-April, other EU extracölle should follow after coordination with the Member States. These could also hit agricultural products imported from the USA such as poultry, beef, certain seafood, nuts, eggs, dairy products, sugar and vegetables.
dpa
Source: Stern
