(Brussels) The EU threatened Thursday to tax for 95 billion euros (148.74 million Canadian dollars) of American imports, including cars and planes, in the event of the failure of negotiations to end Donald Trump customs duties on European products.
Posted at 8:11 a.m.
The European executive has announced that it has launched “a public consultation” on a long list of products manufactured in the United States, which would potentially be affected by European customs duties.
This list also includes electrical equipment, batteries, household appliances, as well as agricultural (fruits, vegetables) or agrifood products such as spirits, including wines and bourbon. These imports “could be the subject of retaliatory measures” if the United States maintains surcharges aimed at EU exports at the end of the negotiations in progress.
At the same time, Brussels will seize the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the commercial measures of which it is the victim of the United States.
The European Commission announced that it would “soon” file a request for consultations with the International Organization based in Geneva, the first stage of a dispute settlement procedure, concerning American surcharge. The EU executive denounces “a blatant violation of WTO rules” and intends to “reaffirm the importance of respecting international rules”.
-The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, however assured that she remained “fully committed” in the search for solutions negotiated with Washington.
“We believe that it is possible to conclude good agreements for the benefit of consumers and companies on both sides of the Atlantic. At the same time, we continue to prepare for all eventualities, ”she said in a statement.
In recent months, the European Union has been struck three times by customs duties in the US administration: 25 % on steel and aluminum, announced in mid-March, 25 % on cars, then 20 % on all other European products in April.
This last surcharge was suspended until July to try to seek a negotiated outcome at the commercial dispute. But customs duties of 10 % are still applied to most of the goods exported to the United States by the twenty-seven.
In mid-March, the European Union has chosen to show muscles replicating in steel and aluminum measures. It then announced customs duties up to 25 % on a first list of American imports for 26 billion euros (4.071 billion Canadian dollars). Are targeted in this first list of emblematic brands such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, agricultural foods like soybeans, but also household appliances such as refrigerators or lawn mowers.
But the EU’s response has not yet entered into force, unlike the first measures of Donald Trump. European surcharge remains suspended from current negotiations, scheduled until July, will only be applied only to the failure of the discussions.
