The commercial tension between United States And European Union has reached culmination. In response to 25% duties on steel and aluminum imposed by the Administration TrumpBrussels has announced immediate and “proportionate” countermeasures that will affect the US goods for a total value of 26 billion euros. It starts from whiskey and the famous Harley Davidson.
The European Commission has expressed “deep regret” for Trump’s decision, which risks triggering one Commercial escalation between the two banks of the Atlantic. The new American administration had announced the increase in duties on imports of steel, aluminum and products derived from the EU, a move that pushed Brussels to react firmly.
From 1st April, the EU will restore the countermeasures of 2018 and 2020, which apply to a series of products, From liqueurs like the bourbon to motorcycles. These measures aim to compensate for the economic damage caused by US duties on 8 billion euros of exports of EU steel and aluminum.
Subsequently, in mid -April, after consultation with the Member States and Stakeholders, a new package of duties on American products will come into force. This second round of countermeasures will concern goods for a value of about 18 billion eurosthus balancing the impact of US rates.
Among the products affected there will be both industrial products (steel, aluminum, fabrics, leather goods, household appliances, home, plastic, wooden products) that) that agricultural products (poultry, beef, some seafood, walnuts, eggs, dairy products, sugar and vegetables).
The European Commission aims to conclude the consultations on the new list of products by March 26, and then quickly adopt the act of execution. The goal is that the new measures enter into force already in mid -April.
EU sources explain that the Commission is developing a “well -calibrated and accurate” package, trying to hit the United States in important sectors for their economy, but which will not have an excessive impact on the EU. The goal is to affect above all important products for the states of a republican majority, At the same time, it is looking for alternatives on global markets. For example, the EU declares itself ready to Buy soy seeds from Brazilinstead of by the republican stronghold of Louisiana.
Despite the firmness of the answer, theEU reaffirms its availability for dialogue. “The above measures can be revoked at any time if a solution is found,” underlined the commission in a note. Ursula von der leyen He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to find a negotiated solution, and “resume the interviews to find better solutions with the United States”.
The President of the Commission stressed that “in a world full of geopolitical and economic uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to weigh our economies with duties”. The EU hopes that the US administration accepts the appeal to dialogue and that a solution can be found that avoids further damage to transatlantic commercial relations.
