By Julia Payne BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Commission has opened a public consultation on Thursday on products which could be hit by new counter-measures to U.S. reciprocal tariffs should
Understanding the EU's Response to US Tariffs
By Julia Payne
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission opened a public consultation on Thursday on products which could be hit by its new counter-measures to U.S. tariffs should negotiations with Washington fail.
The Commission has compiled a list of imported products worth 95 billion euros ($107.24 billion) and a list of EU exports to the U.S. worth 4.4 billion euros ($4.97 billion), including scrap metal, which could be subject to export duties. The Commission did not include possible tariff levels.
The public consultation ends June 10. The Commission will go through responses and formulate a final product list by end-June or early July. U.S. President Donald Trump paused the start of reciprocal tariffs by 90 days to July 8.
The list is predominantly industrial goods. Here is a breakdown of the major U.S. imports which could be targeted:
SECTORS VALUE
Aircraft 10.5 billion euros ($11.29
products billion) includes safety
glass, tyres and engine parts
Motor vehicles 10.3 billion euros ($11.63
products billion)
Motor vehicles 2 billion euros ($2.26
billion)
Alcohol 1.3 billion euros ($1.47
billion) such as wine,
bourbon, whisky
Agri-food 6.4 billion euros ($7.22
billion)
Fish 0.5 billion euros ($564.40
million)
Electrical 7.2 billion euros ($8.13
equipment billion)
Machinery 12 billion euros ($13.55
billion), such as harvesting
and milking machines
Health related 10 billion euros ($11.31
products (not billion), such as needles and
pharma) catheters
Plastics 12.9 billion euros ($14.59
billion), includes a range of
polymers such as polystyrene
and acetate
AGRI-FOOD DETAILS
* Processed foods, eggs, nuts, cocoa products like chocolate, fresh vegetables and fruit, animal parts like offal and bovine semen
* Oils and grains, and their related products such as sowing seeds, rolled oats, cereals, flours and buckwheat
* Plants and bulbs including tulips, trees and shrubs
OTHER IMPORTS
* Additional health products include syringes, ultrasound machines, artificial joints and daily use items such as tampons, combs and cosmetic brushes
* 200 million euros ($225.76 million) worth of batteries
* Live animals such as whales, parrots and ostriches
* niche items like opium used to make pain relief medicines, musical instruments, and sports equipment like tennis rackets, golf clubs and fishing rods
EU EXPORTS TO U.S.
* EU is considering export duties on the following goods: ferrous waste and scrap (iron or steel), aluminium waste and scrap, toluidines, enzymes and odiferous substances used in the food and drink industry
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
* The EU has not included lumber, copper, pharmaceuticals and critical raw materials as Trump is still expected to make more targeted tariff announcements in these areas
($1 = 0.8859 euros)
(Reporting by Julia Payne; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
