"The United States is now imposing tariffs on goods valued at$11 billion in the EU!"US President Trump threatened to tax EU products on social media on the 9th in retaliation for EU subsidies to Airbus.In response,the European Union said it would soon take retaliatory measures.US media say it is difficult to break out a comprehensive trade war between the US and Europe,but this matter undoubtedly further complicates bilateral economic and trade negotiations and will harm the already shaken US Europe relationship.

"Now it's time for results."

The Office of the United States Trade Representative issued a statement on Monday(8th)local time stating that,in accordance with Article 301 of the Trade Act of 1974,punitive tariff procedures will be initiated against the European Union.A preliminary list of tariffs imposed on EU products has been posted on its website for public comment.This includes Airbus aircraft and components,dairy products,and wine,with an estimated value of approximately$11 billion.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative said the move was aimed at compensating Boeing for the corresponding losses caused by the EU subsidies to Airbus."The United States'goal is to urge the European Union to end subsidies for large civil aviation aircraft that do not comply with the provisions of the World Trade Organization(WTO).When the European Union stops subsidies,the United States will cancel the tariffs imposed."."Lighthitzer also said that the United States and the European Union have been suing each other for subsidies to civil aviation giants for more than 14 years,and"now it's time to have results.".US President Trump said on Twitter on the 9th,"The WTO has found that the subsidies provided by the EU to Airbus harm the interests of the United States.The United States is now imposing tariffs on EU goods valued at$11 billion.The EU has been taking advantage of the United States in trade for many years.It will soon be over!"

According to relevant reports from the United States,the losses caused by EU subsidies to the United States will be arbitrated by the WTO this summer.At that time,the United States will decide on the final list and scale of additional tariffs based on the arbitration results.

The European Union says it wants revenge

After the preliminary list was released,Boeing issued a statement supporting the efforts of the Office of the United States Trade Representative to"create a level playing field in the global aircraft market",hoping to force the EU to comply with previous WTO decisions.Airbus responded that the US threat to impose tariffs was"completely unreasonable"and"the only reasonable solution is to reach a settlement through negotiation."According to CNN,a spokesman for the European Commission said that the EU would soon take retaliatory action against Boeing.

For more than a decade,the European Union and the United States have been accusing each other of providing subsidies to their own air giants to enhance their competitiveness in the international market.In 2004,the United States filed a lawsuit against the WTO,accusing the European Union and four EU member states,France,Germany,the United Kingdom,and Spain,of providing illegal subsidies to Airbus.The European Union immediately filed a counterclaim against the WTO against the United States for providing illegal subsidies to Boeing.Since then,the WTO has made rulings successively,ruling that"both parties have violated the rules.".

Economic and trade negotiations will be more complex

According to relevant reports,commentators believe that the intensification of trade disputes will further worsen the"transatlantic alliance."."The European Union has long been dissatisfied with Trump's trade protectionism policy,and the United States is also deliberately trying to weaken the bargaining chip of the EU.In this situation,"mutual trust is difficult to cultivate.".

Qian Wenjie,a partner of Gaopeng Law Firm,told the Global Times on the 9th that the United States,on the one hand,is suing each other with the EU within the WTO system,and on the other hand,is using domestic laws to impose sanctions on itself outside the international trading system,in order to maximize the interests of domestic industries.

Qian Wenjie believes that since Trump took office,he has adopted a tougher attitude towards the EU than the previous US government,but the evolution of trade relations between the US and Europe in the future will still be based on their respective interests:both compete and cooperate.Both Europe and the United States are very proficient in legal practice in the field of international trade,and who is stronger in the event of a conflict between the two depends on their respective economic strength.There is no doubt that the US economy is stronger now.

(This article is translated by software translator for reference only.)