In retaliation for the United States’ expansion of Section 232 tariffs in February to cover steel and aluminum derivative articles, the European Union (“EU”) will hit certain U.S.-origin imports with additional tariffs. Duties of 20 percent for lighters and 7 percent for plastic furniture fittings will apply starting May 8, 2020. An additional 4.4 percent tariff will apply to imported U.S.-origin playing cards, which are currently subject to a 10% levy from a related retaliatory action against the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs.
In June 2018, the EU imposed a 25% duty on 2.8 billion euros of imports of U.S. products, including motorcycles, jeans, and bourbon whiskey as retaliation for the original scope of the U.S. Section 232 tariffs.