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03rd Oct 2019

United States to impose new 25% tariff on certain Irish products

Rory Cashin

Butter recall Ireland

Almost €7 billion worth of EU products will have duty taxes imposed upon them.

A long list of EU products named by the US government will be subjected to tariffs of up to 25%, following a judgement made by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

It is in reaction to the Trump administration claiming that EU governments have illegally subsidised aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer stated: “For years, Europe has been providing massive subsidies to Airbus that have seriously injured the US aerospace industry and our workers.

“Finally, after 15 years of litigation, the WTO has confirmed that the United States is entitled to impose countermeasures in response to the EU’s illegal subsidies. Accordingly, the United States will begin applying WTO-approved tariffs on certain EU goods beginning 18 October.

“We expect to enter into negotiations with the European Union aimed at resolving this issue in a way that will benefit American workers.”

The WTO have authorised the US to impose duties on $7.5 billion (€6.85 billion) worth of European goods, some of which include Irish butter, cheese, liqueurs, and pork products.

The full list of EU products can be found here, which appears to include whiskey produced in Northern Ireland (but not the Republic Of Ireland), but does also include any and all Irish shellfish and any juices produced in Ireland.