On Monday 25 November, the United States put the brakes on the EU’s ambition to impose tariffs on certain American products. The Commission is preparing measures in response to Washington’s failure to comply with the World Trade Organization (WTO) report on Spanish black olives (see EUROPE 13354/15).
It submitted a request for retaliatory measures to the WTO on 15 November, in the sum of €35 million. The products concerned must generally belong to the same sector as the products that are the subject of the initial judgement - in this case, black olives.
However, Washington opposed the new tariffs at a meeting in Geneva on 25 November.
This American refusal has resulted in a new referral to the panel which had handed down the ruling in the first place. It will be asked to give its opinion on the measures proposed by the EU and whether or not they are proportionate.
The EU hopes that the arbitration will be completed within 60 days. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)