US decision to postpone EU steel tariffs unites Europe

According to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the Trump administration's decision to postpone EU steel duties until May 1 is both good and bad news for the European Union.

“This is good and bad news. The United States is our main partner, especially in trade, and the United States has recognized, as the President said yesterday, that the European Union is one and therefore cannot be divided into 28 countries. This is good news. ", - considers J.-K. Juncker.

“The bad news is that the United States is asking us to complete the negotiations, which we will begin in a few days, by May 1. And in my opinion, this is unrealistic given the scale of the issue that we have to discuss with the United States. so that this exemption is permanent and not temporary, "explained the President of the EC.

He noted that European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross had agreed to establish a high-level working group to discuss all relevant issues. At the same time, Jean-Claude Juncker repeated that he did not believe in the possibility of completing these negotiations by May 1, and expressed the hope that "our American friends will be able to hear us and will approach these negotiations in the same spirit as we do."

The White House officially announced Thursday night that six countries and members of the European Union (EU) will be temporarily exempt from duties on steel and aluminum. The U.S. trade representative said tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from European Union member countries, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea were suspended until May 1, 2018. During this time, President Trump will decide on a permanent exemption from duties on the import of steel or deny protection to his allies.