EU trade ministers have agreed that U.S. President Donald Trump’s 30% tariffs announced on the European Union are “absolutely unacceptable,” and they are studying a new set of countermeasures to respond to the move.

European Union officials have drawn up plans to impose levies on American imports, but questions abound about whether they would go through with them.

The EU says the U.S. is resisting efforts to strike a trade deal and warned of countermeasures if no agreement is reached with U.S. by Aug. 1.

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic headed to Washington on Wednesday for tariff talks, an EU spokesperson told Reuters, adding that he will meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

One of the European Union’s most reliable punching bags is shaped like a bottle of whiskey. The EU this week circulated to member states a list of products it could hit with tariffs if a trade deal is

Italy's foreign minister warned that, while he hopes for successful negotiations, the EU will respond resolutely to Trump's latest tariff threat.

Eurofer plans a stricter safeguard system to protect EU steelmakers as tariffs loom and global steel flows shift.

The European Union still wants a trade pact with the US, but the bloc said to be readying its counterattack as President Trump plays hardball and makes a no-deal outcome more likely. EU member states are pushing for new and stringent measures to retaliate against US companies,