Commercial conflict with the USA
Chancellor Scholz announces rapid EU reaction to US tariffs
The United States wants to raise tariffs on European steel and aluminum exports. The industry is concerned. Chancellor Scholz speaks of a quick response from the EU.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced a rapid response from the EU special tariffs to aluminum and steel. The SPD candidate for chancellor said on the sidelines of a citizens’ discussion in Ludwigsfelde: “The EU can and will react quickly.” The EU is a very strong economic area and has its own possibilities to act.
“But it should be the goal that it does not stay with tariffs on the one hand or on the other side. But if it has to be, we can also raise them ourselves.” A reaction can now take place quickly, says Scholz. “We are in close exchange with the Commission.” So far, the EU Commission has left open how the reaction should be.
US President Donald Trump had previously launched tariffs of 25 percent on steel and aluminum imports to the United States. He said the tariffs should apply without exception to imports from all states. The Association of the European Steel Industry sees the announced new US tariffs as a significant threat to production in the EU.
According to information from the European Parliament, Europe’s answer comes on April 1: “If we have not reached an agreement until March 12th – we will of course negotiate now – then there will be this in April 1st April,” said the chairman of the trade committee of the EU Parliament, Bernd Lange, in Strasbourg.
dpa
Source: Stern
