EU countries support 30 percent retaliatory tariff on US goods

EU countries support 30 percent retaliatory tariff on US goods

The European Commission received broad support from EU member countries on Thursday for a single round of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods if no trade deal is reached with the Trump administration, two EU diplomats told POLITICO.

Some €93 billion in U.S. products — ranging from soybeans to aircraft — would face tariffs of up to 30 percent, though not all of them would see such a high rate.

With the vote, in which only Hungary objected, the EU tariffs will not take immediate effect. Rather, they will remain suspended until Aug. 7 to allow time to strike a deal with the United States.

The Commission can decide at short notice to suspend the tariffs for longer, in case that more time is needed to hash out a deal, trade spokesperson Olof Gill told the daily briefing. “The EU is focused on finding a negotiated outcome with the U.S.,” Gill reiterated, declining to give a play-by-play update on the negotiations.

Talks between the EU and U.S. have picked up pace again after Trump sent a letter threatening 30 percent U.S. tariffs on all imports from the EU if no deal is reached by Aug. 1. The two sides are now eyeing a deal which would set a baseline U.S. tariff of 15 percent after Trump announced a similar accord with Japan.

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Source: en.azvision.az