EU prepares to hit Big Tech in retaliation for Trump’s tariffs – FT


Citing two officials with knowledge of the plans, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Wednesday that the European Commission is preparing to deploy its “anti-coercion instrument” (ACI) in a potential retaliation to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which would enable the European Union (EU) to target US service sectors like Big Tech.

One of the officials said that “all options are on the table” and emphasized that the ACI was the most forceful response possible without violating international law.

Market reaction

EUR/USD appears unperturbed by these headlines, adding 0.14% on the day to retest 1.0400.

Tariffs FAQs

Tariffs are customs duties levied on certain merchandise imports or a category of products. Tariffs are designed to help local producers and manufacturers be more competitive in the market by providing a price advantage over similar goods that can be imported. Tariffs are widely used as tools of protectionism, along with trade barriers and import quotas.

Although tariffs and taxes both generate government revenue to fund public goods and services, they have several distinctions. Tariffs are prepaid at the port of entry, while taxes are paid at the time of purchase. Taxes are imposed on individual taxpayers and businesses, while tariffs are paid by importers.

There are two schools of thought among economists regarding the usage of tariffs. While some argue that tariffs are necessary to protect domestic industries and address trade imbalances, others see them as a harmful tool that could potentially drive prices higher over the long term and lead to a damaging trade war by encouraging tit-for-tat tariffs.

During the run-up to the presidential election in November 2024, Donald Trump made it clear that he intends to use tariffs to support the US economy and American producers. In 2024, Mexico, China and Canada accounted for 42% of total US imports. In this period, Mexico stood out as the top exporter with $466.6 billion, according to the US Census Bureau. Hence, Trump wants to focus on these three nations when imposing tariffs. He also plans to use the revenue generated through tariffs to lower personal income taxes.

 

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD holds above 1.0450 after sentiment data

EUR/USD holds above 1.0450 after sentiment data

EUR/USD struggles to gain traction but holds steady above 1.0450 in the European session on Tuesday. ZEW Survey - Economic Sentiment for Germany and the Eurozone improved in February, helping the Euro limit its losses. 

EUR/USD News
GBP/USD holds above1.2600 after UK labor market data

GBP/USD holds above1.2600 after UK labor market data

GBP/USD struggles to attract buyers but holds above 1.2600 in the European session on Tuesday. The data from the UK showed that the ILO Unemployment Change remained unchanged at 4.4% in the three months to December, coming in better than the market expectation of 4.5%.

GBP/USD News
Gold in second day of gains with US and Russian officials meeting for peace talks

Gold in second day of gains with US and Russian officials meeting for peace talks

Gold sets forth rally and pops above $2,900 at the start of the European trading session on Tuesday. Markets brace for headlines to come in from Saudi Arabia where US and Russian officials are meeting. A daily close above $2,910 could put Gold on track for a new all-time high this week. 

Gold News
Storj bulls aiming for double-digit gains

Storj bulls aiming for double-digit gains

Storj, an open-source platform that leverages the blockchain to provide end-to-end encrypted cloud storage services, continues to trade higher by 4.4%, around $0.39 on Tuesday after rallying 5% the previous day.

Read more
Rates down under

Rates down under

Today all Australian eyes were on the Reserve Bank of Australia, and rates were cut as expected. RBA Michele Bullock said higher interest rates had been working as expected, slowing economic activity and curbing inflation, but warned that Tuesday’s first rate cut since 2020 was not the start of a series of reductions.

Read more
The Best Brokers of the Year

The Best Brokers of the Year

SPONSORED Explore top-quality choices worldwide and locally. Compare key features like spreads, leverage, and platforms. Find the right broker for your needs, whether trading CFDs, Forex pairs like EUR/USD, or commodities like Gold.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures

Best Brokers of 2025