Paris calls for a proportional EU reaction to American tariffs

France Minister Marc Ferracci said on Wednesday that the European Union should answer in a “firm and proportional” way to the American duties to avoid escalation, which could have a break at workplaces. He stipulated that “all options are on the table.”

Ferracci said that it is very important to analyze the likely impact of customs on such sectors of the economy as the aviation industry, cosmetics and luxurious goods, so as to properly adapt the EU reaction to American duties. The industries he mentioned are those sectors of the French economy, for which exports to the USA are of the greatest importance.

In an interview with Radio France, the minister said that the scope of possible EU answers to sanctions is very wide. “You can raise customs rates, act with quantitative restrictions on the import of American products, tax certain services in a specific way,” said Ferracci.

He added that “all these options are on the table” and require determining which points are most severe for the American economy. “Later, you have to discuss at European level what would be convenient for everyone, because the interests are divergent,” added Ferracci.

EU member states will vote on Wednesday in Brussels on retaliation for goods from the United States worth 22 billion euros. This is the first part of the EU response to sanctions – the decision that will be made on Wednesday is a reaction to the tariffs imposed by Washington to steel and aluminum from the EU.

From Paris Anna Wróbel (PAP)

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