Protectionism of the United States: the european Union should “react quickly”, according to Macron

AFP

AFP

Monday, march 5, 2018 07:22

UPDATE
Monday, march 5, 2018 07:25

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PARIS | French president Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that if the ads of the United States to tax the imports of steel and aluminum were ” confirmed “, ” it is important for the european Union to react swiftly and in a proportionate manner, within the framework of the WTO “.

“It is clear that (such measures) would be in contravention with the rules of the WTO (world Trade Organization): the EU would be right, and it would be the wish of France, to carry out an action with the WTO, and to take counter-measures” on u.s. assets, he said during a press point with the Prime minister of quebec, Philippe Couillard.

After the announcement by Washington of the tax next customs duty of 25 % for steel and 10 % for aluminum, the EU announced on Friday to prepare retaliatory measures by taxing products such as Harley-Davidson, whiskey bourbon and the jeans of Levi s. The american president Donald Trump immediately responded by threatening to impose a tax on european cars.

The ads in the united states are “very bad responses to the environment as we know it because it is economic nationalism and in the words of one of my predecessors, ( … ) nationalism is the war, and the war, everybody loses,” said Mr Macron.

“Take unilateral steps it is taking the risk of nationalism for answers in the short term, which are never good “, he concluded.

For his part, Mr. Couillard has estimated that “the u.s. market will absorb” taxes and customs “this will be the consumers who will pay “because” everything that is made with these metals will increase in the United States “.

It so happened after the u.s. taxes on the timber of canada, which have increased the price of houses in the United States, he stressed.

“Regarding the trade war, it is rare that it does not make that losers. This is not a road where it is necessary to bring the world. Rather, we need to show by example the importance of open markets and mutual benefits “, said the leader of quebec.