As agreed, the rapporteurs for EU–US relations in the European Parliament will meet again in Strasbourg on Tuesday, 10 February, in order to resume and try to make progress in the negotiations on the two regulations aiming to lower or eliminate the customs tariffs applicable to the importation of a series of American products (see EUROPE 13801/12).
According to our information, technical discussions already took place on Friday, 6 February, but failed to break the deadlock on the two most sensitive points, concerning steel and aluminium, as well as the main regulation’s period of validity.
First and foremost, Bernd Lange (S&D, German), the lead rapporteur and chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA), wants to find a compromise enabling steel and aluminium to be removed from the list of US products, annexed to the main regulation, that can receive tariff-free access to the European market. This measure could, for example, remain in place until the United States returns to a 15% rate on European steel and aluminium derivatives (compared to the customs barriers that are currently up to 50%).
Secondly, Mr Lange is in favour of the main regulation having an 18-month period of validity.
The EPP group is reportedly still firmly maintaining its stance in favour of a 36-month period, as Croatian rapporteur Željana Zovko had previously suggested (see EUROPE 13764/15).
Earlier in the week, she had called on the other groups forming the ‘von der Leyen’ majority to not delay the process of adopting the agreement with the United States and to continue discussions “behind closed doors”.
“Our credibility depends on delivering on what has been agreed and on providing businesses [...] with certainty and predictability”, she had insisted.
A reference to respecting the territorial integrity of EU Member States was added to the agreement’s ‘sunset clause’ and, at the present time, has reportedly not been the subject of any further debate. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)