The American president maintains his industrial stress regardless of ongoing negotiations. Timid response from France and the European Union. The President of the Grand Est area, Franck Leroy, expresses his concern for the regional economic system.
Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday the imposition of 30% tariffs on imports from the European Union and Mexico, to take impact on August 1ᵉʳ. This resolution, introduced by way of its Truth Social platform, comes after a number of successive postponements of those protectionist measures.
A gradual escalation of tariffs
The US president justifies this measure by the necessity to “appropriate” commerce imbalances with the EU, which he sees as a menace to the US economic system and nationwide safety. These tariffs signify a major improve on the 25% initially deliberate for Mexico.
This announcement is a part of a broader plan of “reciprocal tariffs” revealed in April, together with a ten% tariff ground and focused surcharges of as much as 104% relying on the nation. These measures had been quickly suspended as a result of their affect on monetary markets.
Reactions from France and Europe
Emmanuel Macron expressed his “robust disapproval” of Trump’s announcement and referred to as on the European Union to defend itself. He requested the EU to “speed up the preparation of credible countermeasures”. Which countermeasures? We don’t know.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, criticized Donald Trump’s resolution, saying it might “disrupt important transatlantic provide chains”. The EU is timidly threatening to retaliate with “proportionate countermeasures”, and had already thought of taxing €95 billion of US imports in May.
Despite this escalation, Brussels maintains its desire for a negotiated answer, though no additional conferences are scheduled between American and European negotiators earlier than the August 1 deadline.
An expanded system
In addition to the EU and Mexico, the Trump administration has specified the charges relevant to some twenty buying and selling companions, starting from 20% to 40%, with the notable exception of Brazil (50%). Canada is topic to a 35% tariff. In all, some sixty nations may face surcharges in extra of the ten% ground tariff.
This aggressive commerce coverage marks a turning level within the United States’ worldwide financial relations, with probably main repercussions on world commerce.
The Grand Est area notably in danger
President Franck Leroy expresses his “deep concern at this arbitrary and brutal resolution, which can finally solely end in losers”.
In a press launch, the President of the Grand Est Region stresses that “Our area, which is a significant exporter and a popular host for overseas funding, is on the entrance line. It is likely one of the few areas with a constructive commerce steadiness: winegrowing, agriculture, prescribed drugs, the agri-food trade… 1000’s of jobs, know-how and exports at the moment are threatened by this protectionist blow. They all threat paying a excessive worth for a commerce battle that isn’t theirs to win.
He provides: “Our response should be collective, concerted and resolute. United we stand, divided we fall. I name on the European Commission to react firmly, and to place in place a right away assist plan for our industries. Europe can not stand by and watch.
Some key figures
Every yr, greater than 5.3 billion euros price of products are exported to the United States from the Grand Est area. Several strategic industries are immediately uncovered within the Grand Est:
- Pharmaceuticals, specifically the Lilly web site in Fegersheim (Bas-Rhin), the place nearly all manufacturing (over 1.5 billion euros) is destined for the US market;
- The automotive trade, notably in Moselle, with exports to the United States price over 500 million euros.
The United States is a key buying and selling companion for the wine trade:
- 1ᵉʳ Champagne export market in quantity and worth ;
- 3ᵉ export market (after Germany and Belgium) for Alsace wines ;
- By 2024, practically 30 million bottles shipped to the United States, with the market on the rise in recent times.
- The Grand Est vineyards alone account for 45,000 direct jobs and 171,000 seasonal jobs.
