EU answer keys to the rates of the United States

The European Union (EU) promoted this Wednesday Counter “Fast and proportional” for imports of the United States worth a maximum of 26 billion euros, in response to the entry into force of new ones duty From 25 % from Washington to European steel and aluminum.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenhas entrusted the head of the trade, Maros SefcovicContinue conversations with the United States to achieve “better solutions”, in which case the announced measures can be canceled at any time. “

Reaction with two phases

The European Commission, the institution that manages the joint commercial policy of the twenty -seven sevs, says that it “carefully calibrated” his reaction, which will arrive in two phases and at the same time continue to look for a negotiated solution with Washington.

Firstly, it will allow the suspension that it has maintained on the countermeasures that it already approved in 2018 and 2020 for the first party rates that Donald Trump’s first administration has imposed on the European import of steel and aluminum.

These are rates for American products such as motorcycles, ships or bourbon That Brussels was suspended because he had reached an agreement with the US.

Secondly, the Commission proposes a new counter -media package that corresponds to the economic scope of American rates for European import, which amount to 28 billion euros.

Two lists with affected products

Rates imposed by the US. In 2018 they influenced 6400 million European steel and aluminum exports, which assume that 8000 million are eligible for the streams and values ​​of 2024.

Brussels then responded with herbalance measures against different categories of American products collected in two appendices: the first affected goods worth 2800 million euros and, the second, of 3600 million euros (a similar reaction from the EU followed the second series of American rates. Uu. In 2020).

The first list was immediately taken into effect in June 2018 and was the second plan to do this in June 2021, but before this Washington suspended all measures until March 31, 2025.

Now these lists are fully applicable for the first time and Automatic on April 1 For American products to 45 billion, finally, taking into account the impact of Brexit and the fall of import since 2018.

With regard to the new list of American products imposed by the Commission, it will affect goods with a value of 18,000 million euros and It is expected to enter into force on April 13.

Affected American products

American products to which the EU points include a mix of industrialists (Steel and aluminum, textile, leather items, devices, household tools, plastics and wood products) and agriculture (Corral Birds, Beef, Certain Sea products, Fruit, Eggs, Dairy Products, Sugar and Vegetables).

Community sources made it clear that the EU He will not “shoot a shot in the foot” And that has focused on American products that, if access to the European market falls due to new rates, can easily replace with other imports.

As an example, soybeans from Louisiana, the byrene of the president of the House of Deputies, Mike Johnson, who can be imported into exchange for Brazil or Argentina, or products from states with Republican senators such as Alabama, Virginia or Georgia, although Virginia, or Georginia, has also also shown, or Georginia, or Georginia, or Georginia, or Georginia, California.

Procedure

So that this new tariff package can be applied, the EC will consult with the interested parties on the list of products that can ultimately be punished.

He March 26 The consultation will be concluded and then the Commission will evaluate the contributions received before the end of its Implementation Act and consult the Member States, for which it will be invited to endorse the proposal.