The background is the so-called Turnberry Agreement concluded in Scotland last summer. The EU believes it has already fulfilled its part of the agreement by eliminating tariffs on hundreds of American industrial and agricultural products on July 1st. Brussels now expects Washington to do the same.
In total, this concerns EU exports worth a total of 150 billion euros. On the Commission's wish list is a range of products of interest to e-commerce companies selling European premium goods across the Atlantic.
Among the designated goods that the EU wants to see exempted from the 15 percent tariff are:
- Premium Food: Roquefort and Pecorino cheeses, olive oil, truffles, mushrooms, pasta and cured meats.
- Beverages: Wine, sparkling wine, cider and beer, as well as spirits such as whisky, gin and vodka (which previously had duty-free access to the USA).
- Other: Everything from fishing (salmon, tuna) to industrial robots, medical supplies and electronics.
The argument from the EU's side is that the selected products are either irreplaceable or support American interests and the local industry.
So far, the USA has refused to discuss product exemptions until the EU has formally implemented its part of the Turnberry Agreement. But now that this was done at the turn of the year, the ball is now in Washington's court. The EU Commission announces that it will drive the issue "strongly" forward.