The surprising results of a study on US imports: they depend more on the EU than on China / Americans risk “shooting themselves in the foot”

The United States depends more on imports from the European Union than is commonly believed, the block exceeding China both in terms of total value and the number of goods, according to a study by the German Economic Institute, quoted by Reuters.

This addiction has increased significantly in the last 15 years, the number of product categories in which at least 50% of imports come from the EU increasing to over 3,100 last year, from over 2,600 in 2010, according to IW.

The conclusions suggest that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, could have had a stronger position in commercial negotiations with Washington, which led to a 15% basic customs duty for most EU goods, the study shows.

The total value of the imports of these goods – which include chemicals, electrical appliances, cars and equipment – has reached $ 287 billion, almost 2.5 times more than in 2010.

In comparison, China represented 2.925 from these product groups last year, with a total value of $ 247 billion.

“If they continue to increase the taxes, they will shoot themselves in the foot.”

US addiction to China has decreased significantly over time, in an obvious risk reduction process, according to IW.

EU products with constant high import rates will probably be difficult to replace in the short term, a factor that the block should take into account in case of escalating commercial tensions, says the German Institute.

As the last solution, the EU could target the critical goods for the US economy with export restrictions, he added.

Although commercial data cannot fully surprise how essential these goods are for American buyers, the study “can be used to show clearly to Americans that if they continue to increase customs taxes, they will shoot themselves in the foot,” said the Coautor Sultan.

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