Despite Biden's election, the European Union will overtax certain American products

The future President of the United States Joe Biden has always said he wanted to re-establish ties with the European ally.

But he will have to move quickly from words to deeds, because the European Union does not intend to wait any longer to react to Donald Trump's aggressive trade policy.

Brussels will impose customs sanctions in retaliation for American sanctions, a consequence of the conflict between Airbus and Boeing over the famous state aid.

For months, Europeans have been trying to negotiate an amicable solution with the Trump administration, without success.

However, the Americans have already taxed European products for a year, particularly French wines, with 25% customs duties.

This situation is all the more difficult in the face of the economic crisis triggered by the health situation.

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Put pressure on the United States

Last month, the World Trade Organization finally gave the green light to European taxes.

Brussels has therefore decided to take action.

For Franck Riester, the Minister of Foreign Trade, it is impossible to wait for Joe Biden to take office and an improvement in trade relations between the two continents.

"The new administration will not be in place until January 20. This means that European companies, which already suffer from American customs barriers, would still have to be left for months and months without defense," he explains. .

As of Tuesday, the European Union will therefore tax, among others, tobacco, alcohol, pecans, or even excavators and tractors exported by the United States.

The aim is to convince Washington that Europe must be taken seriously.

But at the same time, the 27 are still keeping the door open: they say they are ready to cancel their tariffs if the Americans do the same.

To the tenant of the White House, the current or the next, to seize this outstretched hand.