Washington's unilateral tariffs face pushback from Norway and EU

The United States announced on July 24 a new round of tariffs aimed at imports from Norway, the European Union and about 60 other trading partners. The policy, framed as a response to forced‑labour concerns and industrial overcapacity, met immediate resistance from Oslo.

Norway’s state secretary Andreas Motzfeldt met with U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Jeff Gottman in Oslo to convey the country’s objections. The dialogue covered the Section 301 investigation and the broader overcapacity review that currently includes Norway, the EU and fourteen additional states.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide publicly declared that Norway disagrees with the U.S. decision to act unilaterally and that there is no valid reason to single out Norway while grouping it separately from the EU.

The Norwegian side also stressed that any forthcoming trade pact must be equitable and safeguard national interests. Motzfeldt later posted on X, describing the encounter as constructive but reaffirming Norway’s firm stance against the tariff actions.

The meeting underscored growing diplomatic friction as Washington’s trade strategy creates uncertainty for countries that already have agreements with the United States.