Posted on 05/31/2018 10:31:24 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In a move that sharply escalates trade tensions with America’s closest allies, the Trump administration said Thursday it would allow steep tariffs to take effect on imported steel from the European Union, Canada and Mexico.
Despite European officials’ last-ditch pleas as well as repeated vows of retaliation, the administration said it would not extend for a third time temporary tariff exemptions on steel and aluminum, which expire at midnight Friday.
If the duties are imposed — 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum — EU leaders said they would have no choice but to respond with counter-tariffs on as much as $3.5 billion of U.S. imports. Among the imports that would be targeted are such iconic American products as blue jeans, Kentucky bourbon and Harley-Davidson motorcycles — products aimed at applying maximum political pressure as they are produced in home states of top lawmakers.
European officials on Thursday met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in Paris in a final effort to dissuade the administration from going through with the tariffs, but Ross was unmoved and, in a call with reporters from Paris, Ross announced that the tariffs would be imposed.
Earlier he had suggested that negotiations could continue even after the tariffs are imposed, but EU officials had insisted that the threat of metal tariffs must be lifted before broader negotiations could take place.
Ross, asked about concerns of retaliation that would target farm goods and other U.S. products, said: “Let’s see what evolves as things go forward.”
The tariffs are also likely to complicate ongoing negotiations with Canada and Mexico to reform the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Trump administration made it no secret that the threat of steel and aluminum tariffs was intended as a lever to win concessions from Canada and Mexico,
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Because bourbon is made in Kentucky. It just is. Same reason Champagne only comes from Champagne. “Bourbon” made outside of Kentucky is called whiskey.
mexico produces steel ??
chinese dodge-scam uncovered!!!
Bs. Weakness leads to war. Every canned time. So does moronic foreign entanglements.
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