From 18 October, the Union will be subject to new sanctions applied by the United States; its agricultural sector will bear the brunt of the burden. With some Member States - especially in the Mediterranean - stepping up to the plate, the Washington strategy to break up the European front could bear fruit.
Plenary debate
At the initiative of the centre-right MEPs (EPP group), MEPs debated tariff sanctions on the evening of the plenary session, Wednesday 9 October (see EUROPE 12341/20).
During this exchange, many Spanish MEPs, in particular, but also Italians, urged the Commission, sometimes vehemently, to better defend the interests of their national farmers.
Of the €6.9 billion on the list of products published by Washington, 60% - worth €4.3 billion - concern many of the EU's most emblematic products, and agri-food products occupy a prominent place (see EUROPE 12340/13, 12339/10). French wine, Spanish olives, Dutch cheese, German household appliances and Irish butter all will be subject to a 25% tariff, said Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, speaking on behalf of the Commission during the debate.
Of the total value of this list, 87% is borne by the four countries participating in the Airbus programme, namely Germany, Spain, France and the United Kingdom. “Italy and Ireland are also affected, but to a lesser degree”, Mr Moedas said.
Spanish producers are knocking on the EU’s door
Luis Planas Puchades, Spanish Minister of Agriculture, was in Brussels on the same day to meet Cecilia Malmström and Phil Hogan, commissioners for Trade and Agriculture respectively, to express his concerns and ask for support for the Spanish producers affected.
Mrs Malmström reminded the Spanish Minister that she would try until the last moment to avoid these countermeasures.
Maintaining unity
While some Member States have called on the EU to respond to these sanctions (see EUROPE 12340/13), the Commission still wants to believe in a negotiated outcome for the Airbus and Boeing disputes and remains cautious on the subject.
“The United States has followed all the steps from the WTO, so we should avoid overreaction”, the Portuguese Commissioner said.
Several European diplomats have confirmed to EUROPE that their States support the Commission in its desire not to escalate the dispute, calling - as several MEPs did during the debate - for the unity of the Member States on the subject.
Protecting champions together
In the meantime, the EU has “recently” submitted proposals to its transatlantic partner to establish a new regime for the aviation sector, which it would like to see applied to all major aircraft manufacturers. “We must bear in mind that new, highly subsidised competitors from China and Russia are preparing to enter these markets and may seriously disrupt them if we don’t take urgent action”, Mr Moedas said. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)