EU – US tariffs: EU Commissioner for Trade says delay being considered for return of 2018 Steel and Aluminium tariffs to mid-April; concerns peanut butter, cranberry products

On 20 March, the European Parliament’s Committee for International Trade (INTA) held an exchange with the EU Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, where he informed Members of the Committee that “In the light of the recent announcement that the US is planning to introduce additional tariffs on 2 April, we [the European Commission] are now considering to align the timing of the two sets of EU countermeasures, so we can consult with Member States on both lists simultaneously.” This would give extra tie for negotiations to try and find a mutually agreeable solution. He added that “all the EU's countermeasures that were announced on 12 March would in that case take effect in mid-April.”

This would mean that the products in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886 of 20 June 2018 on certain commercial policy measures concerning certain products originating in the United States of America and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/724, which had been suspended until 31 March 2025, could be see this suspension continue until mid-April.

This would concern Kidney beans (0713 33 90), Peanut butter (2008 11 10), Concentrate cranberry (in codes 2009 81 11; 2009 81 19; 2009 81 31; 2009 81 59), and Dried cranberries (20089391).

Commissioner Šefčovič also shared that he would travel to the United States during the week of 24 March to meet with his American counterparts US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in order to discuss the tariffs developments.

More information: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_25_840

Contact: Lebo Mofolo, lmofolo@frucom.eu