'A trade war has no winners': Europe promises retaliation if Trump puts tariffs on steel - with peanut butter, bourbon and orange juice on hit list

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The European Union has promised to put tariffs on exports to the US including peanut butter, orange juice and bourbon if President Trump goes ahead with plans to put charges on steel imports.

It comes after Trump fired off the first salvos of a trade war by laying out plans to impose tariffs on goods heading for the US, including from the country's closest allies.

The president has long railed against what he deems unfair trade practices by China and others, and last week declared that his government would levy penalties of 25 per cent on imported steel and 10 per cent on aluminum imports. 

The president has long railed against what he deems unfair trade practices by China and others 

The European Union has promised to put tariffs on exports to the US including peanut butter, orange juice (left) and bourbon (right)

Cecilia Malmstrom (pictured) said today: 'A trade war has no winners and if it does not happen for the better, then we can work with our American friends and other allies on the core issue of this problem, overcapacity'

The tariffs, he said, would remain for 'a long period of time,' but it was not clear if certain trading partners would be exempt. 

But the European Commission's trade chief said it will 'have to take measures to protect European jobs' if the tariffs go ahead.

Cecilia Malmstrom said today: 'A trade war has no winners and if it does not happen for the better, then we can work with our American friends and other allies on the core issue of this problem, overcapacity.'   

She added: 'Certain types of bourbon are on the list as are other items such as peanut butter, cranberries, orange juice.'

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also said that Harley Davidson motorcycles and Levi jeans would also be hit.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also said that Harley Davidson motorcycles (pictured with President Trump) and Levi jeans would also be hit

The EU Commission (which is headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, pictured) has drawn up plans to hit back at the US with 25% trade tariffs

President Trump has rejected pleas from EU leaders not to go ahead with the plans, prompting the EU to draw up plans to hit back by slapping higher charges on a range of US exports heading to Europe.

This will include new 25 per cent charges on yachts, peanut butter lipstick, bed linen, motorbikes and trousers. 

And it will also slap the charge on goods in the industrial sector - including tubes, pipes and rolled steels.

Grills, ventilators, ladders and even kitchen sinks will be among the appliances affected. 

Together the total value of the target is estimated to be 2.83 billion euros - the equivalent of £2.53 billion, according to the Politico website.

Trump said the European Union 'has been particularly tough on the United States'.

EU commissioners are discussing the plans for the fleet of tariffs today, and they will be rolled out if Mr Trump goes ahead with the restrictions he announced last week.

The products targeted have been carefully selected so as not to harm EU industries, which do not need the imports. 

Some targets, meanwhile, appear to clearly target politically sensitive Republican-run states.

Donald Trump, pictured in the White House yesterday, said he is imposing tariffs on EU goods because current trade has been  'very unfair'  to the US - but he has  face massive opposition from his allies and lost a key adviser in the White House over the plan

The move comes as Trump's top economics adviser, Gary Cohn, quit in protest at the tariff plan.

Mr Cohn, who headed the National Economic Council and worked at Goldman Sachs, was seen as a crucial moderating influence on the President.

He was a key proponent of free trade - as opposed to the nationalist and protectionist voices in the White House.

His departure will fuel concerns that the US President will stick to his protectionist 'America First' plan - despite the opposition of Britain and other allies.  

At a press conference yesterday, Mr Trump said: 'The United States has been taken advantage of by other countries, both friendly and not so friendly, for many, many decades, and we have a trade deficit of $800bn per year, and that's not going to happen with me.'

He said: 'The European Union has been particularly tough on the United States. They make it almost impossible to do business with them, and yet they send their cars and everything else back into the United States. 

'They can do whatever they like but if they do that, then we put a big tax of 25 per cent on their cars and believe me, they won't be doing it very long.'

He went on: 'The European Union has not treated us well and it's been a very, very unfair trade situation.

'One of the reasons I was elected is I'm protecting our workers, I'm protecting our companies, and I'm not going to let that happen.'