USTR Makes Minimal Changes to EU Tariff List; UK Products Still Covered

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will make some relatively minor changes to 25% tariffs as part of the Airbus dispute, the agency said in a news release on Feb. 14 (see 2002140057). USTR will increase tariffs from 10% to 15% on aircraft from the European Union, but made only two other changes to broader 25% tariffs. Prune juice will be removed from the list, and butcher's knives from England and Germany will be added, but the other products on the list will stay the same (see 2002140057).

A USTR notice outlined the tariff changes. The aircraft tariffs will increase on March 18, while other changes take effect on March 5. “It is also important to note, that while the United Kingdom is officially no longer a part of the EU, certain goods imported from the United Kingdom are still subject to this tariff action,” the Cheese Importers Association of America said in a notice to members.

The agency indicated willingness to continue discussions toward settling the dispute, but also noted further increases remain possible with little notice. The agency said it “determined that going forward, the action may be revised as appropriate immediately upon any EU imposition of additional duties on U.S. products in connection with the Large Civil Aircraft dispute or with the EU’s WTO challenge to the alleged subsidization of U.S. large civil aircraft.”