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EU starts retaliation against Donald Trump's steel and aluminium tariffs EU opens WTO case against Trump steel and aluminium tariffs
(35 minutes later)
The European Union is pressing ahead with countermeasures in response to Donald Trump’s decision to impose trade tariffs on steel and aluminium.The European Union is pressing ahead with countermeasures in response to Donald Trump’s decision to impose trade tariffs on steel and aluminium.
The EU is opening a case at the World Trade Organisation, after the US imposition of a 25% duty on European steel and a 10% duty on European aluminium came into force this morning. Cecilia Malmström, the EU trade commissioner, is also expected to announce retaliatory tariffs on classic American products, such as Levi’s jeans, bourbon whiskey, cranberries and peanut butter, at a press conference later on Friday. The EU is opening a case at the World Trade Organization after the US imposition of a 25% duty on European steel and a 10% duty on European aluminium came into force on Friday morning. Cecilia Malmström, the EU trade commissioner, is also expected to announce retaliatory tariffs on classic American products, such as Levi’s jeans, bourbon whiskey, cranberries and peanut butter, later on Friday.
“The European Union will today proceed with the WTO dispute settlement case adding those additional duties on a number of imports from the United States,” Federica Mogherini, the EU high representative on foreign policy, told journalists this morning. “The European Union measures will be reasonable, proportionate and in full compliance with WTO rules and obligations.”“The European Union will today proceed with the WTO dispute settlement case adding those additional duties on a number of imports from the United States,” Federica Mogherini, the EU high representative on foreign policy, told journalists this morning. “The European Union measures will be reasonable, proportionate and in full compliance with WTO rules and obligations.”
She was the latest European politician to hit back at the US decision, which has was described by President Emmanuel Macron of France as a “mistake” and the international trade secretary, Liam Fox, as “patently absurd”. She was the latest European politician to hit back at the US decision, which has been described by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, as a mistake and the UK’s international trade secretary, Liam Fox, as “patently absurd”.
Speaking on Friday morning, Germany’s economy minister Peter Altmaier said he hoped that a decisive response from the EU would prompt the US president to think again. “We hope that the European response will result in a process of reflection in the USA,” Altmaier told German broadcaster ARD, adding that the EU may look to work with Mexico and Canada on trade, also hit by the new tariffs. Germany’s economy minister Peter Altmaier said on Friday: “We hope that the European response will result in a process of reflection in the USA.” He told the German broadcaster ARD that the EU may consider working on trade with Mexico and Canada, which were also hit by the US tariffs.
Bernd Lange, the German socialist MEP who chairs the European parliament’s international trade committee, said the tariffs were “illegal” and insisted the EU would “make some countermeasures, no doubt about”. He said: “We chose also some symbolic products like Harley-Davidson to make clear here is a red card.” Bernd Lange, the German socialist MEP who chairs the European parliament’s international trade committee, said the tariffs were illegal and insisted the EU would put countermeasures in place. “We chose also some symbolic products like Harley-Davidson to make clear here is a red card,” he said.
Seeking to dial down the rhetoric, Mogherini said “The European Union is not at war with anyone. We don’t want to be, for us this out of the question … The European Union is a peace project including on trade.” She added that the EU believed in “free and fair trade” and “that is why we are multiplying the trade agreements with our partners in the world”. Seeking to dial down the rhetoric, Mogherini said: “The European Union is not at war with anyone. We don’t want to be; for us this out of the question … The European Union is a peace project, including on trade.”
She said the EU believed in free and fair trade and “that is why we are multiplying the trade agreements with our partners in the world”.
The EU recently announced the formal launch of trade talks with Australia and last year completed negotiations with Japan.The EU recently announced the formal launch of trade talks with Australia and last year completed negotiations with Japan.
She was speaking alongside China’s foreign affairs minister Wang Yi, who said China and the EU were both committed to a rules-based, multilateral global system. The pair were also discussing Iran and North Korea ahead of an EU-China summit in Beijing next month. She was speaking alongside China’s foreign affairs minister, Wang Yi, who said China and the EU were committed to a rules-based, multilateral global system. The pair were also discussing Iran and North Korea before an EU-China summit in Beijing next month.
Beyond the warm words, Brussels and Beijing remain at odds over the heavily subsidised Chinese steel that has depressed global steel prices. Mogherini acknowledged that “we have some issues” and the EU would “obviously continue to address” the problem of overcapacity with China. Beyond the warm words, Brussels and Beijing remain at odds over the heavily subsidised Chinese steel that has depressed global prices. Mogherini acknowledged that “we have some issues” and the EU would continue to address the problem of overcapacity with China.
Anthony Scaramucci, a former White House communications director, said there was always room to negotiate with Trump, but he was unlikely to be flattered into changing his mind.Anthony Scaramucci, a former White House communications director, said there was always room to negotiate with Trump, but he was unlikely to be flattered into changing his mind.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Scaramucci, a personal friend of Trump, said the tariffs were a measure to correct the “uneven and unbalanced” trade system. “I am sure that there are chips on both sides that can get traded to make the problem go away,” he said. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Scaramucci, a personal friend of Trump, said the tariffs were a measure to correct the “uneven and unbalanced” trade system.
“There’s always room in a negotiation with him, but he’s also the type of person that will walk from a negotiation.” “I am sure that there are chips on both sides that can get traded to make the problem go away,” he said. “There’s always room in a negotiation with him, but he’s also the type of person that will walk from a negotiation.”
PA contributed to this reportPA contributed to this report
Steel industrySteel industry
European commissionEuropean commission
Trade policyTrade policy
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
EuropeEurope
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