Brussels, 15/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 7 May, with the adoption, without discussion, by the Agriculture Council of a regulation reducing the tariff on imports of non-alloyed raw aluminium into the Community market by half, from 6% to 3%, the Council finally validated the compromise reached by the 27 EU member states at a meeting of the ad hoc customs union working group on 3 April (see EUROPE 9402). This decision was immediately welcomed by the Commission, whose initial proposal sought a two-stage reduction of the tariff to 0%. “The reduction of the customs duty is aimed at improving the competitiveness of EU companies and in particular SMEs using semi-finished and finished aluminium products (Ed: in their production processes), whilst also taking into account the interests of European aluminium producers,” the Council said. It noted that the partial suspension of the tariff on non-alloyed raw aluminium imports would come into force three days after its publication in the EU Official Journal. It will be reviewed in three years to take account of possible future changes in the aluminium market situation. (eh)