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October 31, 2021

Joe Biden announces the immediate removal of US tariffs on European steel and aluminum and the EU commission will propose to do the same for US ones.

This was announced by the US leader himself and President Ursula von der Leyen at a joint press conference on the sidelines of the G20.

The agreement puts an end to the trade dispute that erupted during the Trump administration, when the former White House tenant imposed tariffs of 25% on steel imports from Europe and 10% on aluminum imports. The agreement has a 'green' component, providing for monitoring the intensity of carbon in the production of metals. At the same time, Brussels will remove duties on a series of products imported from the USA.

Biden called the agreement "a milestone in relations between the US and Europe". While speaking from the Cloud, where the meetings of the leaders present at the Rome summit take place, von der Leyen noted that this agreement is a new step on relations between the two economic giants, after the one already reached to put an end to the disputes in the sector of aeronautical production.

Biden: false conflict between jobs and climate


The steel agreement between the European Union and the United States "refutes the false idea that the defense of climate and jobs cannot be reconciled" declared the president of the United States, announcing the agreement at the G20 alongside President von der Leyen.


"This agreement is a huge breakthrough that addresses the existential threat of climate change while protecting jobs at the same time," Biden said, "instead we can protect both." "It's an agreement that guarantees cheaper products for American consumers, makes our steel competitive and offers good jobs at home."

Only democracies find valid solutions


"Only democracies can find valid solutions" to global challenges, the US president said.

"The US and the European Union in the last nine months have come together to face important challenges, looking for the things that unite us, and we have solved" various issues.

US and EU will fight the challenges of the 21st century together


"Europe and the United States are and will be good friends and will continue to work together for the challenges of the 21st century" concluded Biden.



Von der Leyen: the Commission will also ask for an end to steel duties


"Thank you, Mr. President, dear Joe, for announcing that the United States will remove US tariffs on EU steel and aluminum to previous trade levels. This will alleviate an important part of existing trade frictions. It will enable trade. transatlantic steel and aluminum to return to the levels recorded before the application of these tariffs. Following this US decision, I am pleased to announce that the Commission will also propose to suspend the tariffs we had introduced, "said the President of the European Commission.

With the US, trust and dialogue resumed


"Since the beginning of the year, we have restored trust and dialogue. At our June summit, we silenced our disputes over subsidies for aircraft. We established the Council for Trade and Technology. We have established the Council for Trade and Technology. an agreement has been reached on the global minimum tax. And now we have found a solution for the EU-US steel and aluminum trade ", stressed von der Leyen.

Steel agreement step towards decarbonisation


"Steel production is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions globally. For steel consumption and trade to be sustainable, we need to address the carbon intensity of the industry. We also need to address overcapacity issues. This is what it is. who wants to reach the global agreement on sustainable steel "explained the president of the European Commission. "We will work together with the United States to ensure the long-term viability of our industry, to encourage the production and trade of low-carbon steel," he added. "This new global initiative will add a powerful new tool to our pursuit of sustainability. It will be an important step towards achieving climate neutrality.And it will ensure a level playing field for our industries. It is another key initiative for our renewed and forward-looking transatlantic agenda with the United States ", emphasized von der Leyen.