Brussels, 08/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - The USA have just announced an extension of their exemption procedures from 3 July to 31 August and which, therefore, goes further than the European Union' deadline. The latter responded on Monday by confirming that the 19 July still held for putting off or enacting the decision to sanction US surcharges on steel, without waiting the Geneva decision on the legality of these tariff barriers. European Commissioner, Pascal Lamy's spokesperson explained that the USA was aware of this meeting and would benefit from letting the EU know what it was going to do. Mr Lamy said that this meeting would not involve implementing exemption decisions but would simply be announcing them.
The spokesman announced that the Europeans are expected to react in one of two ways in a few days time: they either point out that the USA is putting forward no new constructive option, no "compensatory package" and could lead to retaliatory measures on 1 August or they are informed of the US wishing to introduce some king of compensation. The latter's results would lead to a decision being postponed until October but still with the possibility of immediate and targeted sanctions. "But this is not what we want", explained Brussels.