EU retaliation measures against the US increase in tariffs for imported steel and aluminium

In reaction to the US administration’s decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminium imported into the US, the European Commission released on June 6 its proposed retaliation measure. The proposed measure takes the form of a list of products for which imports tariffs would be increased for products originating from the USA.

In the first draft list established by the EU in May, some flat glass products, mostly transformed glass products for automotive, were included. In its response to the EC consultation, Glass for Europe had opposed such an inclusion, advocating that trade in flat glass products should not to be hampered by increased duties.

In the final list submitted to WTO in June, the European Commission no longer proposes to increase tariffs on flat glass products imported from the US as of 20 June 2018. Instead, these flat glass products are included in Annex II of the notified list, which means that import tariffs could be increased between 10% and 25% only as of 23 March 2021.

Glass for Europe is satisfied that immediate increase in duties was not chosen for these flat glass products and hopes that trade negotiations between the EU and the US will lead to a dispute resolution as soon as possible.