The Minister of the Economy, Eric Lombard, regretted on Friday March 14 “IdiTe War” With the United States, after the threats of Donald Trump, the day before, to impose on France and more broadly on the European Union (EU) of customs duties of 200 % on their champagnes, wines and other alcohols.
“The United States, doing this, are hurting”estimated Eric Lombard in the program “Les 4 truths” on France 2. “We are going to be in a climbing phase: they taxed European steel and aluminum at 25 %, we answered, they respond again. It happened like that eight years ago ”he continued.
Since his return to power in January, the American president has launched a series of commercial offensives against his allies as his competitors, saying that the United States was unjustly treated in international trade.
“Reduce the tension”
The EU had announced customs duties on several American products on Wednesday, including Bourbon, motorcycles and boats, in retaliation for American surcharges of 25 % in force on the same day on steel and aluminum.
“We know that Trump is a negotiator and that his way of negotiating is first to increase customs duties”estimated Eric Lombard. And “If we want to be able to negotiate with him, we have to put ourselves on equal arms”he justified.
Questioned Friday on Sud Radio, the Minister of Commerce Véronique Louwagie said that there was “Another list of 90 pages that is ready at European level to tax other products from the United States”but without detail which ones.
Canada announced Thursday that it has filed a complaint before the World Trade Organization (WTO), believing that these taxes were going “Against the obligations of the United States” in matters of international trade. “We have to chat with the Americans to reduce the tension”said Eric Lombard, adding that he would go to the United States “In the coming days”.