Europe and Asia unite in transatlantic steel war
European and Asian nations united today to demand that the US drop its duties on imported steel or face the billions of pounds in retaliation against products ranging from oranges to Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
The call for change in US trade policy followed a ruling by the World Trade Organisation that the duties are illegal. It was one of the most politically charged cases ever brought before the Geneva-based body.
“As frank and loyal friends of the United States, we hope that Washington will remove as soon as possible the steel tariffs that are considered illegal by the WTO,” said Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Industry Ministry under-secretary in charge of foreign trade.
“We want to ward off a commercial war that, for its size, would be unprecedented.”
The appeals body is the WTO’s highest tribunal, and the decision is final.
The US criticised the ruling, and insisted it was right to impose the “safeguard” tariffs for three years to give its domestic steel industry time to restructure. It made no immediate announcement about its next step.
The European Union threatened to slap sanctions of up to €1.9bn on US imports such as citrus, textile products and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
EU officials said they will act if the steel duties are still in place five days after the report has been formally adopted by the WTO, which will likely happen on December 1.
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