A number of strategic products, including all aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, certain generics, semiconductor equipment, certain agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials will be supervised by a “zero for zero” right, communicated the European Commission on Sunday evening.
Energy and Pharma
Since then, the various ministers of the Member States have been busy deciphering the impact of this Mega-Deal for the countries for which they are responsible. In Belgium, it appears that this agreement will mainly affect two sectors: the pharmaceutical industry and the energy sector.
The US-EU agreement has an important energy component, since it involves buying for $ 250 billion “energy” in the USA each year. By energy, you must hear Liquefied Gaz (LNG), oil and coal. We know that a big part of the American LNG goes through the port of Zeebruges. But Monday, neither the sector nor the cabinet of the Federal Minister of Energy, Mathieu Bihet (MR), were already able to give a quantified response of the upheaval that this will lead to the Belgian level. “We are attentive to the situation, but we are waiting to have the entire deal”, assures the liberal minister.
On the side of specialists, we note that this objective of 250 billion is unrealizable for Europe. At La Libre, Anne-Sophie Corbeau, researcher at Center on Global Energy Policy From the University of Columbia, explains that Europe will not be able to comply with its commitment because this would imply put an end to other trade agreements. In addition, the United States it would not be able to provide this amount of energy.
4.1 billion for American companies
According to initial information collected by the office of the Minister of the Economy, David Clarinval (MR), a transversal rate of 15 % on all exports would represent a potential cost of around 4.1 billion euros for significant American companies of Belgian products.
One of the sensitive points concerns the pharmaceutical sector: it appears that European drugs would be well subject to the American rate of 15 %. “”This remains a significant measure for a strategic sector. The Pharma is an essential engine of our economy, representing a major part of our industrial added value and our exports. We will therefore remain particularly attentive to the concrete effects of this provision on investment and employment “communicates the Deputy Prime Minister.
Uncertainty
On the pharmaceutical side, we positively welcome the fact of having “A little more legal certainty after months of uncertainty “but this rate is strongly deplored by 15 %. “It is now crucial to finalize this agreement as soon as possible, with clarifications on the terms, so that companies regain a minimum of legal stability”implores the Federation of Chemistry, Essenscia.
For Pharma.be, this agreement “risk of compromising the position of Belgium as advanced region in the innovative pharmaceutical sector, as well as that of Europe “. The association of the drug industry also stresses that the impact on the pharmaceutical sector is still very vague because the details remain to be specified.
1700 billion dollars
The current exchanges between the two economic powers amount to $ 1,700 billion per year for A market of 800 million people and almost 44 % of world GDP. Will this positioning remain the same in a few years?
“Europe is blowing, because customs duties are less than waiting but those on steel and aluminum are kept at prohibitive rates. And worse, we have dropped our own rights percent”analyzes the economist Bruno Colmant. “”Our energy dependence on the United States will increase. In three years, once this dependence is well established, prices will flambé, in a context of strengthening fossil fuels. […] Europe, its energy, its industry, its growth are losing. “
