BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The European Union on Monday said it is preparing “countermeasures” against the United States after the Trump administration's surprise tariffs on steel rattled global markets and complicated the ongoing, wider tariff negotiations between Brussels and Washington.
Last week, ahead of Friday's surprise announcement, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to “accelerate talks” on a deal. “In the event that our negotiations do not lead to a balanced outcome, the EU is prepared to impose countermeasures, including in response to this latest tariff increase,” European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill told a press conference in Brussels.
He said the EU is finalizing an expanded list of countermeasures that would automatically take effect on July 14 or earlier. That’s the date when a 90-day pause, intended to ease negotiations, ends in tariffs announced by the two economic powerhouses on each other. About halfway through that grace period, Trump announced a 50% tariffs on steel imports.
Trump’s return to the White House has come with an unrivaled barrage of tariffs, with levies threatened, added and, often, taken away. Top officials at the EU’s executive commission says they’re pushing hard for a trade deal to avoid a 50% tariff on imported goods.
Negotiations will continue on Wednesday in Paris in a meeting between the EU’s top trade negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič, and his counterpart, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The EU could buy more liquefied natural gas and defense items from the U.S., and lower duties on cars, but it isn't likely to budge on calls to scrap the value added tax — which is akin to a sales tax — or open up the EU to American beef.
The EU has offered the U.S. a “zero for zero” outcome in which tariffs would be removed on both sides for industrial goods including autos. Trump has dismissed that, but EU officials have said it’s still on the table.
The announcement Friday of a staggering 50% levy on steel imports stoked fear that big-ticket purchases from cars to washing machines to houses could see major price increases. But those metals are also so ubiquitous in packaging that they’re likely to pack a punch across consumer products.
FILE - Police cars stand outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Sept. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, file)
DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka was skittled for 94 in 15.2 overs as Bangladesh won the second Twenty20 by 83 runs to level the three-match series at 1-1 on Sunday.
It was Bangladesh's second biggest T20 victory by runs.
Bangladesh captain Litton Das scored a 50-ball 76, his first T20 half century after 13 games. He helped to lead Bangladesh to 177-7 in 20 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl.
In-form batter Kusal Mendis was run out in the second over of Sri Lanka's reply and the hosts slipped to 30-4 inside the powerplay against fast bowler Shoriful Islam (2-12), one of the three changes Bangladesh made after losing the opening game.
Opening batter Pathum Nissanka (32) and Dasun Shanaka (20) were the only batters to cross the double-figure mark before Sri Lanka was bowled out with more than four overs to spare.
All five Bangladesh bowlers were among the wickets. Legspinner Rishad Hossain (3-18) finished off the match by having No. 10 batter Binura Fernando stumped.
Nissanka was also stumped by Das off Hossain which ended the 41-ball partnership for the fifth wicket, and in the same 11th over Hossain caught and bowled Chamika Karunaratne (0) to leave Sri Lanka on 71-6.
Shanaka holed out at deep mid-wicket in the 12th over against off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz before Bangladesh wrapped up the tailenders quickly.
Das followed his half century with two stumpings and two catches.
Sri Lanka won the T20 opener by seven wickets with an over to spare on Thursday.
The final T20 match is on Wednesday at Colombo.
Sri Lanka won a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh 2-1 as well as a two-match test series 1-0.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Bangladesh's Rishad Hossain bowls a delivery during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis hits a boundary during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Bangladesh's Mohammad Saifuddin successfully dives into his crease as Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis removes the bails during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Bangladesh's Shamim Hossain plays a shot during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Bangladesh's Litton Das plays a shot during the second Twenty20 cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
