S&D Group calls for the permanent EU exemption from the US tariffs on steel and aluminium
Date
23 Mar 2018
Sections
Trade & Society
The S&D Group welcomes the US president’s plan to temporarily exempt the European Union from worldwide tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, 'as a first positive step' but calls for a permanent EU exemption from the tariffs.
S&D Spokesperson for EU-USA trade relationships and chair of the European parliament’s trade committee, Bernd Lange, said:
"A temporary exemption from the US punitive tariffs on steel and aluminium is important to protect the workers in the steel industry, but it can only be a small first step in the direction of respect of the rule of law. An exemption for a couple of countries does not make Trump's measures more legitimate. I expect president Trump to fight unfair trade in the WTO and not through unilateral measures."
"However, as Trump's statement is only speaking about a temporary exemption until the 1st of May, it is clear that further talks are needed.
S&D Group spokesperson for trade, Alessia Mosca, said:
“The EU may have won a temporary reprieve from US tariffs on steel and aluminium. This is an example of the fact that the EU is stronger together, especially when it comes to trade policy, but we still need a guarantee of a permanent EU exemption from the tariffs.