President Donald Trump announced customs duties of 30% identical on Saturday for all countries of the European Union (EU). But these, more or less exporters, would not be penalized in the same way if the measurement between good on August 1.
Ireland, European heavy goods vehicle from the pharmaceutical industry boosted by its advantageous tax framework, is on the front line with Germany, which sells in the United States of cars, steel products and “Made in Germany” machine.
France is less exposed, but the champions of aeronautics, agrifood, wines and spirits and luxury have every reason to worry about the new threat of the tenant of the White House.
The EU as a whole released a trade surplus vis-à-vis the United States of $ 235.6 billion (187.3 billion francs), according to the Economic Analysis Office (BEA), which depends on the American trade department and which published its annual statistics in early February. Only China displays a higher amount.
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Ireland, the European laboratory
L’Ireland Records the widest excess of EU members with $ 86.7 billion. This is explained in particular by the establishment in this country of large American groups, especially pharmaceuticals.
American laboratories like Pfizer, Eli Lilly or Johnson & Johnson, for example, settled in Ireland to benefit from a 15% tax on large companies, against 21% in the United States.
These companies can thus host their patents in Ireland and sell on the American market, where the prices of medicines are traditionally higher than in the rest of the world.
The country also welcomes most of the European technology giants on its soil, such as Apple, Google or Meta, also attracted by attractive Irish taxation.
Germany, the industrial champion
First EU economy, theGermany is particularly under pressure due to its dependence on exports: it has an excess of $ 84.8 billion with the United States.
On June 23, the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had specifically mentioned the automobile, chemistry, pharmacy, mechanical construction and steel, as key sectors which should have priority for the European Commission, responsible for commercial negotiations on behalf of the 27 member countries.
The German Industry Federation (BDI) reacted promptly on Saturday to Donald Trump’s announcements, calling on the EU and the United States to “quickly find solutions and avoid climbing”.
Italy and France in the second curtain
L’Italy and the France A priori would be less affected, with 44 billion dollars and $ 16.4 billion in surplus according to the Americans respectively (but for France a deficit of a few billion, according to customs statistics).
However, the impact varies from one sector of activity to another within each of these two economies. The food industry and wine products would be particularly affected in the two countries, with significant commercial outlets, just like the automobile.
“Imposing customs duties of 30% on European agrifood products – and therefore Italian – would bring a blow to the real economy, agricultural businesses,” reacted the main organization representing the agricultural sector in Italy, Coldiretti.
Among the most exposed French sectors are also aeronautics -which represents one fifth of France’s exports to the United States -, luxury (perfumes, leather goods, etc.), wines and cognac.
This tax rate on European exports in the United States would be a “disaster” for the French wine and spirits sector, Jérôme Despey, boss of the viticulture branch of the FNSEA union, reacted on Saturday.
L’Austria and the Suede Also excess with the United States, respectively 13.1 billion and $ 9.8 billion.
>> The explanations on Donald Trump’s announcement in Forum:
AFP/ATS/DK