They are the goods that can be covered by EU customs against the United States
The EU is planning to impose countermeasures against Trump’s customs in mid -April. In connection with Trump introducing customs against European steel and aluminum, the European Commission produced a list of goods proposed to be part of the Union’s response tariffs.
These include steel and aluminum products, textiles, leather goods, household appliances, household utensils, furniture, plastic, rubber, wood products and industrial machines.
The Commission also proposes tariffs on agricultural products such as poultry, beef, some seafood, almonds, eggs, dairy products, sugar and vegetables. This is according to a list sent to, among other things, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and which DN has taken part in.
The products that are included in the list that Sweden imports most of, for example, are clothing, wine, lawn mowers, and plastic, according to the Foreign Trade Authority Commercial College’s analysis. Almost half of all US consumer goods imported into Sweden may be covered. Increased customs duties on these goods are likely to mean higher prices for consumers, according to the analysis.
– The lion’s share are products where there are alternatives for consumers, says Foreign Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa (M).
They planned the customs Beat about 7 percent of the goods that Sweden imports from the US, which last year amounted to a value of just over SEK 4 billion. The size of the customs on these goods can be is not determined. But after the US president presented a new comprehensive customs package on Wednesday, which is expected to strike even harder against the EU countries, Sweden’s Foreign Trade Minister will see that the EU will respond with more powerful customs to even more goods than those so far listed.
– The old list was just a response to customs against European steel and aluminum, the answer to the new customs is likely to be much more extensive. It will probably be about more consumer brands produced in the United States, such as orange juice, motorcycles, boats and other things that are interchangeable. Things that are more about preference rather than it is critical for the industry, says Benjamin Dousa.
The EU response duties may include goods equivalent to close to SEK 200 billion according to an analysis of the College of Commerce. This is in addition to the tariffs introduced on April 1 on products such as Bourbon, Harley Davidson motorcycles and jeans. At the same time, the EU’s response must be proportionate and must not escalate the situation, Dousa points out:
– We don’t want a trade war. It is not about revenge duties, but about putting pressure on American politicians with the goal of seeing lower customs in the future by the Americans realizing that it will have a significantly negative impact.
USA is one of Sweden’s Most important trading partners and more tariffs can hit hard from the construction and automotive industry to the manufacture of glass, furniture and electrical products.
In a referral response to the European Commission, Sweden pleads that five types of US goods that are included in the EU list should be exempted to spare Swedish industry. From pallets to nuts and rear view mirrors are input goods that can receive increased customs. These are products used in, among other things, the production of pulp, cosmetics and drugs.
– We do not want to shoot ourselves in the foot by introducing tariffs on goods that are critical input goods for Swedish industry. The goal is for customs to hit as hard as possible against the US and not hit consumer prices and the Swedish economy, so we want customs on goods that are interchangeable for consumers.
On Monday, an extra -ministerial council meeting will be held with EU foreign trade ministers where the issue of EU response, which will be presented in mid -April, will be discussed.
