European Commission Consults On Response To US Tariffs

The European Commission (the "Commission") is actively preparing its response to US tariffs should the ongoing negotiations not reach a successful outcome. The EU response, as announced on 8 May, has three main elements:

• imposing tariffs on US imports into the EU;
• imposing restrictions on certain goods exported from the EU to the US; and
• initiating a formal dispute with the US at the World Trade Organisation ("WTO").

The Commission has launched a public consultation on the categories of products to be covered by the tariffs and export restrictions. That public consultation is open until 10 June.

Potential EU tariffs

The list of US products which may be the subject of possible EU tariffs runs to 218 pages. It includes a wide range of industrial and agricultural products, for example chemicals and plastic; iron, aluminium and steel products; cars and car parts; machinery; and electrical equipment. From an Irish perspective: