The draft list published by Politico lists US imports to be hit by increased EU tariffs if the US went ahead with President Trump's threat to increase taxes on European metal products.

The EU retaliation plan would not only target US steel and other industrial products, but also agricultural goods. The list includes American consumer products popular with European customers such as rice, orange juice, cranberries and bourbon whiskey.

Farmers will be relieved that key US inputs for their farm do not appear on the list. Crucially, soya beans are not targeted in the document. The US exported more than 4m tonnes of soya beans to the EU last year, of which 4,637t went to Ireland, according to Eurostat. This is a significant source of protein feed for European farmers, along with South American supplies.

It is unclear, however, how the US would react if the EU brought agricultural products into the escalating trade confrontation.

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