The European Union and the United States. Credit: Georges Gobet / AFP / Profimedia
The European Union suspended on Monday, until July 14, the countermeasures on unjustified customs taxes announced by the US, the measure of Brussels being motivated by the desire to provide sufficient time for negotiations with Washington, indicates a statement from the European Commission.
The suspension was first announced last week by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, writes Agerpres.
The decision, which postponed 90 days the application of customs duties decided on US imports, was taken in response to the US also 90 days of additional customs taxes that exceed the 10% basic customs tax level on the products imported by the United States.
In total, suspended EU countermeasures cover US exports worth 21 billion euros.
The European Union adopts the first series of countermeasures at Trump's rates. Hungary, the only country to oppose / what American products are targeted
“We want to give the negotiations a chance”
As part of the EU steps to find a negotiated solution, the European Commissioner for Commerce and Economic Security, Inter -Institutional Relations and Transparency Maros Sefcovic are on Monday in Washington to have explorer discussions with an official to find a negotiated solution.
“We want to give the negotiations a chance,” said Ursula von der Leyen last week. “But if the negotiations do not prove satisfactory, the EU countermeasures will enter into force,” she added.
Trump says the EU was “very smart” in the response to American customs duties
In addition to these countermeasures, now suspended, against 25% American customs taxes on steel and aluminum imports, continues the preparations for additional EU countermeasures.
On February 10, the US announced that they will impose 25% customs duties on imports of steel, aluminum and derivatives. The president of which Ursula von der Leyen has shortly warned that such taxes are “bad for companies and worse for consumers” and that they will be followed by a firm and proportional European response. US taxes were imposed on March 12.
Trump's customs duties on steel and aluminum have entered into effect / which are the most affected countries / EU has reacted immediately with their own measures
In response, the EU has announced a quick and proportional plan to impose countermeasures on exports of American goods, but has constantly said that it prefers to find a good solution with Washington.
On April 9, the EU states voted in favor of the proposal of the European Commission. After a few hours, the US announced the suspension for 90 days of additional customs duties, ie those that exceed the 10%basic ceiling, except those applied to China. Following this last announcement, the European Commission has also decided to suspend the customs duties agreed by the EU as reprisals for the 25% customs duties imposed by the US last month for steel, aluminum, vehicles and components of the auto industry.
An unusual creativity: EU customs duties will hit Trump in the most vulnerable point
