The European Union (EU) has quickly responded to US 25 % duties on steel and aluminum imports to the US, taking retaliatory steps, but wants to avoid the notice of the situation. This was stated on Wednesday by the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič in an exclusive interview for the Slovak media in Brussels, the TASR newsletter informs.
On Wednesday morning Šefčovič at the European Parliament in Strasbourg together with the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursulu von Der Leyen announced that The EU from April 1 will introduce “countermeasures” to US goods worth € 26 billion.
The Slovak Commissioner stressed that He regrets that this is due to this condition because he did everything during the February visit to Washington to keep this. He added that von Der Leyen entrusted him to seek the starting points of this situation.
“We are the largest business partners with the largest business exchange, however to those duties that are unjustified and unauthorized we had to respond“he explained. In his words, activation of clause 232 is unnecessary because it is talking about the protection of national security, with The EU cannot imagine the threat of its Member States representing for its largest ally. Rather, both sides should focus on how to solve the world’s excessive capacity of steel and aluminum.
He stated that the EU response of EUR 26 billion would be applied in two stages. Another list of the goods concerned in the European Commission has already introduced to the Member States and after a two -week consultation with them is expected to be approved by the list. These measures will enter into force within one month.
According to Šefčovič, however, Brussels is not waiting for anything, which is why he has already contacted American trade minister Howard Lutnickato begin to negotiate and avoid the “painful stage” of the measures and countermeasures, which will result in citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.
“The jobs are threatened. It can be said that, given the huge business, which represents 40 percent of the trade exchange around the world, it disrupts worldwide trade stability and for decades built supplier chains built“he said.
Šefčovič recalled that the EC responded quickly. Already an hour after entering into force of US duties indicated its retaliatory steps, What was also necessary for the US to start taking a serious EU as a strong business partner.
“We are well prepared for both stages of retaliation, but we do not like to do it. We know that it does not ask for the economic development of either part of the parties. It causes great nervousness in the financial markets, which we see in the US, but also among ordinary entrepreneurs who do not know how to prepare business plans today, “he explained.
He added that now Awaiting US Party’s reply To negotiate and prevent the risk of a commercial war, while the EU wants to speak fairly as partners, the reciprocity of the tariff. “European companies create millions of jobs in America, The EU is the largest business partner and investor in the US, Americans are important investors in the EU. We expect respect and fair approach“He described the situation Šefčovič.
