The European Union is punishing the United States for illegal state aid to aircraft maker Boeing. Sanctions worth more than three billion euros will be imposed on various goods, the trade ministers decided during a video meeting.
The conflict between the EU and the US has lasted for more than 16 years, with both blocs accusing each other of giving illegal state aid to the aircraft makers Boeing and Airbus. The EU had already received permission from the World Trade Organization to take punitive measures in October, but decided to postpone it so as not to influence the US presidential election.
The European Union has tried to negotiate the sanctions so that the US does not take action against European products. The EU would then refrain from taking action against US goods. But President Trump’s administration did not want to hear about this and decided to impose an additional import tax on olives, whiskey, wine and cheese.
Joe Biden
Germany had suggested postponing the measures, as a goodwill gesture towards the new president Biden, but the other ministers did not agree. According to a Brussels source, an answer to the American sanctions is now necessary.
“That has to do with the credibility of the EU. We did not want to interfere in the elections, but just continue now. Moreover, Donald Trump will be president until the end of January.”
Although the list is not yet official, it is expected that mainly peanuts, tobacco, ketchup, salmon and orange juice will be affected by the tariffs that the EU will impose.
The hope in Brussels is that the punitive measures will be dropped once President Joe Biden is in power.
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