Here's what Europe could target for countermeasure tariffs

LOS ANGELES - The European Union is preparing countermeasures in response to President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, with officials warning that U.S. industries—including bourbon, motorcycles, and jeans—could be hit with retaliatory tariffs if the measures go into effect next month.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed that the trade restrictions "will not go unanswered."

What the EU could target

By the numbers:

If the EU follows past trade disputes, American-made products from key Republican states could be in the crosshairs. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, said the EU is prepared to reinstate previously suspended tariffs that targeted:

• Motorcycles (impacting companies like Harley-Davidson)
• Bourbon and whiskey (affecting Kentucky-based distilleries)
• Jeans (which could hit brands like Levi’s)
• Peanut butter and other U.S. food exports

"When he starts again now, then we will, of course, immediately reinstate our countermeasures," Lange told rbb24 German radio.

In this photo illustration bottles of American bourbon whiskey stand arranged at a whiskey shop on March 8, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Steel industry faces major losses

What's next:

The European steel industry is bracing for a significant downturn, with up to 3.7 million tons of steel exports at risk. The U.S. is the second-largest export market for EU steel, accounting for 16% of total EU steel exports.

"It will further worsen the situation of the European steel industry, exacerbating an already dire market environment," said Henrik Adam, president of the Eurofer European steel association.

The EU has called for negotiations with Washington to avoid escalating a potential trade war, but officials say they will act if no agreement is reached.