RIGHT NOW: EU "yes" to retaliatory tariffs - against 1,600 goods

Trump crash 2025

Sweden votes for EU tariffs against Trump: "Puts pressure"

Jacob Ruderstam

Updated 15.48 | Published 13.50

EU "yes" to retaliatory tariffs against the US. Picture shows EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Omar Havana / AP

The EU introduces retaliatory tariffs against the US.

Sweden is behind the list of American goods to be covered.

- This will put pressure on the Americans, says Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa (M).

Donald Trump's import tariffs have been high on the EU's agenda recently. Member states have discussed which American goods should be covered by the retaliatory tariffs aimed at the US. During the afternoon, the Union voted in favor of the list, which contains around 1,600 goods.

Sweden votes in favor

Sweden is among the countries that voted to introduce the counter-tariffs, according to Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa (M).

- We think it is a well-crafted list that will put pressure on the US to sit down at the negotiating table with us, he tells Aftonbladet.

During the afternoon, EU members voted on retaliatory tariffs after Donald Trump's announcement on April 2. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP

Foreign Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa believes that the EU's response will put pressure on the Americans. Photo: Björn Lindahl

Sweden has previously gotten through that several goods that are important for Swedish industry should be exempted from EU tariffs. This includes kaolin, a mineral used to make paper pulp.

- It was very important that we removed it from the list of countermeasures. As I said, it is a well-crafted list that aims to put pressure on the US, says Dousa.

Put pressure on the US

The purpose of the countermeasures is also to make it clear to Trump and his administration that the high tariffs are bad, says Dousa.

- This will put pressure on the Americans and make it clear that what they are doing is not sustainable if they do not want to push the entire American economy into recession. If they stick to the tariff rates, it will lead to a significant deterioration in the American economy.

“It is incomprehensible”

The EU is not alone in being affected by the US president's tariffs. Countries such as China and Canada have already responded by introducing countermeasures in response to Trump's measures. According to the Swedish Minister of Trade, there is no doubt who is responsible for the situation that has arisen.

- If you look at previous crises like the pandemic or the financial crisis, none of them were created by politics and in a conscious way. The US was doing really well, tech companies started and investors came. Now they are pushing back the country's economy, it is incomprehensible, says Dousa.

EU tariffs against the US will be introduced on April 15.