International Trade : US Duties on Imports of Steel and Aluminum
On 31 May 2018, the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, released a statement regarding the imposition of US duties on imports of steel and aluminum from Europe. He finds that this decision by the US will seriously harm workers, industry, and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. He asserts that the European Union will defend the interest of its citizens with the European Parliament playing a full role in defending legitimate European interests. Furthermore, the Chairman of International Trade Committee of the European Parliament, Bernd Lange, stated that the INTA Committee the decision of the US to levy duties on imports of steel and aluminum from the EU. He states their full support of the European Commission’s stance against the arbitrary duties that are a clear contradiction of WTO rules. He believes the EU needs to act and that unfair trade must be fought in the WTO and in the G20 Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity. However, he finds trade reforms to be possible but only through negotiations in these fora and not through unilateral measures.
