The Union did not undertake to buy weapons from the USA. It will not reduce meat duties either

In commercial negotiations with the USA, the European Union agreed to abolish customs on the import of some agricultural products, but among them there is no so -called sensitive products such as beef, poultry and sugar – EU sources said. According to them, agreement with the USA does not provide for arms purchases.

The chairwoman of the EC Ursula von der Leyen agreed on Sunday with the American President Donald Trump regarding customs. According to the agreement, most of the goods imported to the USA with the EU will be covered from August 1 with a uniform customs rate of 15 percent.

According to EU sources, the political agreement of leaders will be turned into a “joint statement”, whose final sound both parties are to work this week. However, it will not be legally binding. The agreed customs rate for goods from the EU Trump will introduce a regulation, which, as expected by Brussels, is to become effective from Friday. In this way, e.g. duties on European cars from the current 27.5 percent ceiling. are to be reduced to 15 percent.

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The EU-American joint statement will also include a list of goods that will be covered by zero customs. Von der Leyen announced that the list of such goods will include all aircraft and their components, some chemicals, some generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials.

The inclusion of agricultural products caused concern in the EU, because this could mean that American goods not meeting high EU standards to the EU market, which has been refused to Europe for decades. On Monday, EU officials, however, calmed down: the list certainly will not include the so -called Sensitive goods such as meat or sugar. The European Union is to introduce a zero customs rate to nuts, soy, some fish and seafood or pet food.

The fate of alcohol is still in the Italian

The future of alcohol is still not a foregone conclusion, which has become a “hostage” of tensions commercial in recent months – the US has threatened to raise duties to wine, and the EU planned in retaliation to take into account American Bourbon. – Alcohols are still negotiated. Talks are more advanced in the case of spirit drinks, less in terms of wine – the EU source said.

The EU also plans to endure duties to some chemicals needed to produce fertilizers. As in the case of liquefied gas (LNG), Brussels perceives the United States as a potential alternative source after the Union decided to gradually introduce prohibitive duties on Russian and Belarusian fertilizers.

In turn, the United States is to introduce a zero rate to goods from the EU, from which they are “addicted”, such as certain natural resources, e.g. cork, as well as some drugs and medical equipment.

On Sunday evening, von der Leyen and Trump gave contradictory information. Trump said that there was no way that the agreement between the EU and the USA concerned pharmaceuticals, while von der Leyen announced that they would be covered by a uniform 15 % rate.

According to EU sources, on Friday, the US will not impose duties on pharmaceutical products, but they can be introduced in the future when the Trump administration ends its investigation in accordance with the section 232 of the American Trade Act of 1962. It applies to pharmaceutical products, semiconductors, wood, critical raw materials, shipyard industry and other sectors.

– We do not know yet and I understand that Trump's administration may not yet know how the investigation into pharmaceutical products will end. But for us it is clear that regardless of its result, they will not be covered by a rate higher than 15 percent. for the EU – an EU official said on Monday.

According to Trump, the EU committed to military purchases. Meanwhile, on Monday, the sources emphasized that shopping was not part of the agreement.

– It was not part of the negotiations, in any case the European Commission does not intend to continue it. But at the NATO summit in Hague, our Member States have committed to increasing defense expenditure. Thus, directly or indirectly, it will benefit the United States – explained the EU official.

The EU has committed – as announced by Trump – to buy energy for $ 750 billion in the next three years. This is not only about liquefied gas, but also about nuclear energy and oil. According to EU sources, private enterprises will make purchases, but the agreed amount is in line with the plans of European companies, and therefore “achievable”.

According to Trump, the European Union is also to invest $ 600 billion in the USA. According to EU sources, unlike Japan, which has committed to invest public money, EU investments will be financed by private companies. According to EC estimates, which asked European enterprises about their investment plans, this amount is estimated, but also “possible to achieve”.

Trump also announced that steel and EU aluminum will remain covered by the current 50 % rate. Von der Leyen, however, donated on Sunday, and the EU sources confirmed – that quotas would be designated for both raw materials, and therefore the amount that will be able to enter the USA not covered by high duties.

From Brussels Magdalena Cedro (PAP)

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