The first wave of European countermeasures to the US aluminium and steel tariffs (see EUROPE 13598/1) will not come into force on the 1st of April, but two weeks later. The European Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, informed the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) on Thursday 20 March.
“In the light of the recent announcement that the US is planning to introduce additional tariffs on 2 April, we are now considering to align the timing of the two sets of EU countermeasures, so we can consult with Member States on both lists simultaneously.”, said the Commissioner.
According to the European Commission’s trade spokesman, Olof Gill, the postponement is not just being considered, but has already been decided. These extra two weeks will also be useful for negotiating with the US administration, the Commission assured. He added that this change “diminish the impact of our response”.
Some MEPs regretted this new timetable and called for a firm response. “It’s the Republicans who started this trade war. If cooperative approach is not working we have to show our teeth, it’s the only language this administration is understanding”, insisted Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, German).
The Chair of the INTA Committee, Bernd Lange (S&D, German), questioned the Commissioner about the reasons for this delay and how the EU could show its determination.
However, a larger number of MEPs called for caution. “We have to negotiate. to offer them [the United States] a good deal”, argued Jessika van Leeuwen (EPP, Dutch).
Her colleague Céline Imart (EPP, France) called for American spirits to be removed from the list of countermeasures, so that Washington would not target French wines and spirits in return. She also called for compensation for sectors negatively affected by tariffs.
Finding the perfect balance in the imposition of tariffs “is the most difficult part of our job”, said Maroš Šefčovič. “We don't like doing this job. We would prefer to talk about lowering taxes”. And to recall all the constraints with which the Commission must work to respond to the American threats. “If I told you that there was nothing we could do, because we didn’t want to jeopardise this or that sector, you wouldn’t be satisfied at all”, insisted the Commissioner. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)