(Adnkronos) – The countermeasures adopted today by the European Commission in response to the tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum imposed by the United States of America aim to hit above all states and electoral districts with a Republican majority, in order to maximize the damage inflicted on the current Administration and push it to negotiate, but they also concern states where the Democrats won in 2024. “We are adopting a strong response – explains a senior EU official – if they speak to us in that language, we respond with the same coin”. Even during Donald Trump’s first term, counter-duties had been calibrated to target states in the hands of the tycoon’s party.
Among the imported products hit today by the EU are “beef and poultry”, which are produced in large quantities in Kansas and Nebraska, both conquered by the Republicans in 2024. Other states particularly affected by the measures are Georgia and Alabama, which both saw the GOP victory in 2024, but also Virginia, where the Democrats prevailed. Some measures then concern a Democratic stronghold like California.
“Our measures – specifies the source – are not coordinated with Canada and the United Kingdom, but obviously we are in contact and we talk to each other. At this stage there is no formal coordination on the level of the measures adopted” with London and Ottawa. Today “we are reacting to unfair measures” adopted by the USA. “Today we are not targeting services”, but “all options are on the table. We do not rule out larger and more creative responses through services, intellectual property rights and more, but today what we are adopting” are commercial measures.
