The US and EU were unable to reach an agreement in ir talks on a derogation to import duties on steel and aluminium imposed by US President Donald Trump. The previous talks did not bring any immediate clarity about exact US procedure for an exemption, said EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström after a meeting with US Trade representative Robert Lighthizer in Brussels.
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Malmström said that she had an open conversation in Brussels with trade envoy Robert Lighthizer about steel tariffs. She insisted that EU should be liberated because it was a close US ally. New talks are planned for next week. “As a close US security and trading partner, EU must be exempt from measures announced,” Malmström wrote on Twitter. So far, only US neighbours Mexico and Canada are exempt from customs duties. Trump also envisaged a derogation for Australia.
On Friday, Malmström had expressed hope that Europeans could still avert import duties in negotiations with Washington. If customs duties are to come into force, EU intends to sue World Trade Organisation and, in turn, impose customs duties on US products. The EU will defend its interests resolutely and appropriately, said EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
Trump had signed two proclamations in White House on Thursday that 25 percent duty on imported steel and ten percent on aluminium should come into force within 15 days. The forthcoming duties have caused worries of a new trade war. According to Trump, duties are to protect US jobs and national security.
