Brussels, Apr 9 (EFE). – European Union countries approved the European Commission countermeasures on Wednesday to respond to the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on steel and aluminum, according to diplomatic sources and confirmed by the EC.
“The EU considers US tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy. The EU has stated its clear preference to find negotiated outcomes with the US, which would be balanced and mutually beneficial,” the Commission said in a statement.
Wednesday’s vote means the countermeasures will come into force once the European Commission’s internal procedures are complete and the implementing act is published.
All EU member states except Hungary voted to retaliate against US tariffs.
“Escalation is not the answer. Such measures would cause further damage to the European economy and citizens by raising prices. The only way forward is negotiations, not retaliation,” wrote on X the Foreign Affairs and Trade Hungarian Minister Péter Szijjártó.
The European Union’s countermeasures will come in three rounds. Measures covering 3.9 billion euros in trade will take effect next week, followed by another 13.5 billion euros from mid-May and a final round of 3.5 billion euros in December.
“These countermeasures can be suspended at any time should the US agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome,” the European Commission stressed.
The first group corresponds to products already targeted in the 2018 trade crisis, including sweet corn, rice, cigars, cigarettes, essential oils, footwear, various types of furniture, safety glass, or optics, among others.
Second, the European Commission is proposing another extensive list of US products that will be subject to tariffs of up to 25% starting in mid-May to meet World Trade Organization notification deadlines.
In addition, the European Commission is proposing another list of products subject to tariffs of up to 25% as of May 16 to meet the notification deadlines set by the World Trade Organization.
These goods range from copper ores to construction products such as grooved rails, metal pipes, or sheet piling, laying hens, poultry meat, and coffee, among others.
The EU also included five almond and soybean products that would be hit with tariffs on Dec. 1.
The European Commission has finally removed bourbon whiskey from the list of US products on which it will impose tariffs, even though it was on the original document drawn up in March.
The European Commission has finally removed bourbon whiskey from the list of US products on which it will apply tariffs, even though it was on the original document drawn up in March after Donald Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on wine and other European alcoholic beverages in retaliation.
Swedish Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa said in a statement that most of the products affected by the EU countermeasures are easy for consumers and companies to replace. EFE
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