FT has learned of a possible EU ban on imports of some products from the US
The European Union (EU) may block imports of some US products in response to US President Donald Trump's trade policy and to protect its farmers. This was reported by the British newspaper Financial Times (FT) on February 16.
According to three officials who spoke to the publication, the European Commission (EC) will study the possibility of import restrictions next week, and this could increase tensions in the association's relations with trading partners. Under the import ban could fall those American products that are made with technologies that are banned in the EU.
For example, the association could refuse to import soybeans grown using pesticides that are banned in Europe as a means to harm plants and animals.
"We have very clear signals from Parliament, very clear signals also from member states and from our farmers: everything that is banned in the EU must be banned in the EU, even if it is an imported product," the FT quotes the European Commissioner for Health Oliver Varhely as saying back in January.
In addition, the EC may include higher animal welfare standards in future trade deals: the EU has requirements for the amount of space in pens for calves and chickens, cleanliness of premises and other issues. The newspaper pointed out that these regulations increase costs for farmers.
Earlier, on February 13, Trump called Europe a very difficult trading partner for the United States because the EU enjoys many advantages and imposes high taxes against American companies to benefit. On the same day, the American president announced the introduction of reciprocal duties and also called the first three weeks after his return to the White House remarkable.
Prior to that, on February 10, it was reported that Trump raised tariffs on US imports of steel and aluminum from 10 to 25%, as well as removed various exemptions and duty waivers for the largest suppliers. Also, the President of the United States specified that these duties will be imposed on the products of those countries that previously imposed retaliatory restrictions on American products.
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