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Brussels/Stockholm – The EU member states say a resounding yes to responding to US tariffs – but open the door to stopping the trade war “at any time”.
Almost all member states – including Sweden – are reported to have said yes. Only Hungary took a no stance.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tells TT that “it was an important decision for the EU to mark this with a very broad consensus”.
“The EU responds proportionately. Not to harm trade but to show that the EU is a large and important trading bloc in the world, with attempts to reach negotiations with the US. Now we will see if it goes that way or not,” says Kristersson.
The Prime Minister emphasizes that “of course, the EU should not act in such a way that we would undermine our opportunities also in Europe”.
“That is why we make well-balanced efforts, meaning we impose tariffs primarily on products that are relatively easy for consumers to replace with other products”.
According to leaked information in advance, the EU will impose tariffs on around 1,600 different goods from the US. Kaolin, an important commodity in Swedish industry, is exempted, according to the Swedish government.
A victory for Sweden’s line, according to Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.
“In this darkness that American trade policy represents, Sweden has still achieved a victory,” says Dousa, adding that the government has had close contacts with the business community on the issue.
(April 9)