United States: Donald Trump imposes new taxes on European products
Donald Trump's administration has just decided to apply new taxes to European products, in particular on aeronautics.
REUTERS - EDUARDO MUNOZ
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Three weeks before the presidential transition, the administration of the outgoing president decides to impose new customs duties on European products.
The European Union would have, according to the White House, levied too many taxes on American products as part of the old dispute between Boeing and Airbus since 2004.
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This new tax increase targets French and German products, in particular aeronautical spare parts, as well as still wines and cognacs.
By means of a press release, the US trade administration announces that it will raise customs duties on exports across the Atlantic, without specifying the amount and timing of the application of these new sanctions, which must be added to those in force for more than a year.
The
two aircraft manufacturers
accuse each other of having benefited from public subsidies and practiced unfair competition.
The WTO, the World Trade Organization, has allowed Washington and Brussels to apply punitive tariffs to each other.
But obviously for the Trump administration the account is not there, it considers that the sanctions already issued are insufficient, and has therefore just added new taxes.
This new American offensive comes as the European Union and China try to come closer.
The two economic powers have just signed
a preliminary agreement
which should guarantee the reciprocal protection of investments.
French wine and spirits exporters feel sacrificed
It is a blow to the French wine and spirits exporters.
By means of a press release, the industry claims to be the victim of a conflict that is negotiated between States.
The Federation assesses the sector's shortfall in all taxes at one billion euros.
This new offensive by the Trump administration, applicable on January 12, is indeed targeting French and German products by increasing customs duties on non-sparkling wines, grape must and cognac by 25%.
In addition, aeronautical spare parts will have to undergo a 15% increase in taxes.
The French Ministry of the Economy condemned these sanctions, in addition to those in force for more than a year.
For the European executive, this unilateral action disrupts the negotiations underway between the EU and the US Trade Representative to find a solution to the conflict between Boeing and Airbus.
Brussels is counting on the new US administration to settle this 16-year-old dispute.
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