Trade conflict
EU shifts retaliation for new US tariffs
The United States has put new tariffs into force that also meet Germany and the EU. The European Commission actually wanted to strike back at the beginning of April – but now there is a postponement.
The EU moves the planned reintroduction of retaliatory tariffs to US goods in a billion value by two weeks to mid-April. According to the responsible European Commission, the reaction to the American tariffs to steel and aluminum imports placed by US President Donald Trump should only take place in mid-April.
The step should make it possible to create additional space for discussions with the US government. The EU remains ready to enter a constructive dialogue with the United States to find a solution that avoids unnecessary damage to both economies, it said in a statement.
Trump had previously threatened the EU with tariffs of 200 percent on wine, champagne and other alcoholic beverages from France and other EU countries. The United States would shorten these tariffs if the EU did not take the planned customs back on American whiskey, he warned. The US tariffs would particularly hit large wine producer countries like France.
Customs on bourbon whiskey and motorcycles
The reintroduction of the currently exposed tariffs would apply to US products such as bourbon whiskey, game consoles, motorcycles, boats and peanut butter. The height of the additional tariffs is said to be 50 percent-for example for motorcycles from the manufacturer Harley-Davidson and Jack-Daniel’s Whiskey built in the USA.
Further countermeasures are currently being developed and are also to be activated in mid -April. They are supposed to meet companies that sell American agricultural products such as poultry, beef, certain seafood, nuts, eggs, dairy products, sugar and vegetables.
In addition, there are said to be EU extracülle on other industrial products such as steel and aluminum products, textiles, leather goods, household appliances, tools, plastics and wood products.
Were affected by 26 billion euros
According to the Brussels authority, the new US tariffs of 25 percent exports of the community of the agency of 26 billion euros will meet, which corresponds to around five percent of the EU’s total goods. “Based on the current import flows, this will result in US importers have to pay up to six billion euros in additional import duties,” it said around a week ago.
The EU counter-measures should compensate for this. According to commission information, US goods exports worth up to 26 billion euros would be affected by the planned EU reactions.
Already a trade dispute in the first Trump-Amtszeit
In his first term from 2017 to 2021 special tariffs, US President Trump ordered the import of steel and aluminum products and justified this “with interests of national security”.
At that time, the EU was already reacting to US products such as Bourbon Whiskey, Motorcycles and Jeans.
In autumn 2021, however, the EU then agreed with the government of Trump’s democratic successor Joe Biden on a standstill agreement, which resulted in the customs duties.
After his re -election, Trump now goes back to the confrontation course. He has also announced that he wanted to impose new tariffs on cars and other goods from the EU. They are expected on April 2. He wants to strengthen the United States as a production location and reduce trade deficits.
dpa
Source: Stern
