By Philip Blenkinsop
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission bowed to pressure from EU countries to water down countermeasures against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium, removing U.S. bourbon from its list of targets.
The European Commission had planned to impose extra duties on up to 26 billion euros ($28.4 billion) of U.S. imports in response to U.S. 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium and drew up a list of products in mid-March.
This is the current plan, on which EU members will vote on Wednesday.
WHAT IS THE EU RESPONDING TO?
Trump reinstated 2018 tariffs on steel and aluminium semi-finished and finished products, such as steel pipes and tin foil.
Washington has also raised the rate applicable to aluminium to 25% from 10%, removed multiple exemptions and extended the tariffs to cover products made from the metals, including cookware, window frames, machinery, gym equipment and furniture.
WHICH MEASURES WILL EU IMPOSE FIRST?
The EU responded in 2018 to Trump’s tariffs, which it said affected 6.4 billion euros of EU metal shipments, with duties on 2.8 billion euros of U.S. imports. Tariffs on a further 3.6 billion euros of imports were due to take effect three years later, but were suspended as President Joe Biden and the bloc agreed a truce.
These tariffs will be reapplied on April 15, targeting U.S. products including steel and aluminium, motorcycles, motorboats and orange juice, but no longer reapplied to bourbon.
Trump had threatened 200% tariffs on EU alcoholic drinks if the EU targeted U.S. whiskey, prompting concern from France and Italy, Europe’s largest wine exporters
The tariff rates vary from 10%, such as for diamonds, to 25% for most products.
WHICH NEW PRODUCTS ARE THE EU TARGETING?
The commission, which coordinates EU trade policy, also drew up a new list of U.S. imports valued at 21 billion euros and planned to narrow them down to 18 billion euros worth on which to impose tariffs.
These tariffs of 25% are to be imposed on May 16.
However, the proposal on Monday removed dairy products, spirits and wines from the initial list.
The list still includes poultry, other meat, fruit, cereals, vegetable oils, beer, wines, wood, carpets, clothing and glassware, as well as chewing gum, dental floss, other precious stones, lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners and toilet paper.
The list also shows that EU tariffs will still apply to soy beans and almonds, but only from December 1.
($1 = 0.9143 euros)
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop)
