The European Union is broadening the list of US goods it will target with retaliatory tariffs if US President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose duties on steel and aluminum exports,

European Union trade chief Maros Sefcovic said on Thursday that his top priority in trade talks with President Donald Trump's administration is to avoid a period of economic pain for both sides from unilateral U.

The Trump administration also highlighted a 2.5% tariff on ethanol imports that compares to an 18% tariff applied by Brazil. The White House said this resulted in the U.S. importing “over $200 million in ethanol from Brazil, while the U.S. exported only $52 million in ethanol to Brazil.”

Donald Trump’s tariffs are a headache for all his trade partners. But the U.S. president’s plan to impose ad hoc “reciprocal” levies on imports are a particular problem for the European Union. By enabling him to target whichever countries in the bloc he pleases,

Hoping to head off a potential trade conflict, a top European Union official stressed the importance of active engagement and fairness in trade during a four-hour meeting with Trump administration officials.