The legacy of Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policy looms large over the Atlantic, with the expansion of steel tariffs to “derivative” products seen as a direct continuation of an approach that is now wreaking havoc on European industry. The initial 50% tariff, a hallmark of the Trump era, has evolved into a more complex and arguably more damaging system.
The original tariffs were part of Trump’s “America First” agenda, designed to revive the US steel industry by imposing heavy costs on foreign competitors. This blunt-force approach caused immediate friction with allies, including the EU.
The current crisis over the “derivative” list is an extension of that logic. It aims to close perceived loopholes and prevent circumvention by targeting manufactured goods that contain foreign steel. While the architect may have changed, the protectionist philosophy remains firmly in place.
European leaders are now grappling with this enduring legacy. The “turbulent” relationship described by Luisa Santos of BusinessEurope did not begin recently; it is a continuation of the tensions that flared during the Trump administration. The current US policy is seen as a refinement, not a repudiation, of that earlier strategy.
The result is that European industries are still on the receiving end of a trade policy that prioritizes domestic protectionism over allied cooperation. As they face the chaos of the expanding list, they are reminded that the foundational principles of Trump’s trade war are very much alive and well.