New tariff rebalancing measures are announced for Tuesday 7 April, in response to the increase in US rates on steel and aluminium derivatives.
Indeed, since 8 February this year, nails, tacks, pins, wire ropes or bumper parts have been subject to the same tariff duties as those imposed on US imports of steel (+25%) and aluminium (+10%) (see EUROPE 12414/16).
These measures, the value of which are estimated to be €40 million, had been decided by Washington in order to sanction imports of steel and aluminium derivatives which it believed were circumventing its customs duties imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act (see EUROPE 12031/2).
The EU has therefore decided to respond by imposing additional duties on two new products: tariffs of 20% for lighters and 7% for plastic furniture accessories. The Commission has chosen to introduce a one-month delay before implementing these tariffs: if the US does not reconsider its sanctions, they will apply from 8 May 2020.
In addition, gaming cards, which had already seen their import duties into the EU increase by 10% on the Commission’s first list of rebalancing measures, will be subject to an additional 4.4% duty in 3 years’ time, if the measures are maintained. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)