The meeting between EU trade ministers and their American counterparts on Monday, 24 November, did not bring the EU any good news on the US tariffs in force (see EUROPE 13758/2), but Member States want to show goodwill. On Friday, 28 November, they unanimously adopted their positions on two regulations lowering tariffs on a list of US products (see EUROPE 13697/4). The final adoption of these two regulations will mark a new step in the implementation of the EU-US Joint Statement.
Member States have aligned themselves with the European Commission’s proposal and have not proposed that the list of targeted products be reduced. As far as eliminating customs duties on lobster is concerned, they want to broaden the scope to include processed lobster.
The European Parliament is, for its part, considering slightly amending the list of industrial products so as not to give too much away to the United States, particularly on steel and aluminium (see EUROPE 13737/7).
However, the EU Council has suggested strengthening the safeguard clause in the text, which provides that tariff concessions made to the Americans may be withdrawn in the event there is a significant negative impact on the European economy.
Member States are also calling for the economic effects of trade liberalisation to be monitored more closely and for a supporting implementation report [to be submitted].
The EU Council must now wait for the European Parliament to adopt a position in order to make progress on the text, which will not happen until early next year.
The Council position : https://aeur.eu/f/jrd (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)