European Union leaders will think about imposing 25 % tariffs on a spread of US imports, together with metal, garments, and meals, however not bourbon or different alcoholic drinks, following US President Trump’s resolution to impose tariffs on imports from the EU.
When leaders collect in Brussels on April 9, they’ll vote on a tariffs package deal outlined in a doc, seen by RFE/RL, which proposes staggered rounds of tariffs.
This may give time for negotiations to happen. EU officers have said that their most popular possibility is a commerce cope with Washington that removes commerce obstacles, moderately than including to them.
The EU proposals embrace 4 levels of tariffs.
The primary stage, kicking in on April 15, features a 25 % surcharge on greens, cereals, tobacco, some autos, and electronics. There may be a ten % charge on toys and video games.
The subsequent stage is about for Could 16. It consists of tariffs on extra sorts of autos, iron and metal utilized in building, reside animals and meat, non-alcoholic drinks and artworks.
Lastly, there’s provision for tariffs on nuts and soybeans from December.
“The measures concern imports of merchandise originating in the USA on which the Union shouldn’t be considerably dependent for its provide,” the doc states.
It says this could “keep away from as a lot as attainable a unfavorable impression on the varied actors on the Union market, together with customers.”
The plans keep away from some contentious points. EU leaders have voiced differing views in latest days about whether or not, for instance, to exclude bourbon and wine. France and Italy, eager to keep away from US countermeasures on their wine exports, seem to have gained this battle.
Trump had threatened a 200 % tariff on EU alcoholic drinks if bourbon had been hit.
Additionally excluded from Brussels’ plans are gadgets the EU depends on, equivalent to plane and components, semiconductors, and gas.
A call to not put tariffs on prescription drugs matches the US strategy. Nevertheless, Trump has mentioned separate tariffs shall be imposed on the sector.
Washington has imposed a sequence of tariffs on imports from the EU.
First, a 25 % tariff on metal, aluminum, and vehicles was introduced. From April 9 there can even be 20 % tariffs on virtually every little thing else.
The EU doc states that the US tariffs “are able to having a substantial unfavorable financial impression on the Union industries involved.”