Thursday, March 4th, 2021
Johnson pleased with agreement
USA stops punitive tariffs on British products
Because of unauthorized subsidies for the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the USA had imposed punitive tariffs on several European products. After Brexit, the United States is now temporarily lifting some of the extra taxes on British goods. But negotiations on a free trade agreement are only going tough.
In the dispute over US punitive tariffs on some British products, the government in London can report an initial success. The US is lifting the additional levies on Scottish whiskey, knitwear and cheese and pork products for four months, as both states announced in a joint statement. Meanwhile, a permanent solution should be found. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the "fantastic news" would benefit many UK companies.
The USA had raised the punitive tariffs on EU products because of illegal subsidies for the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Great Britain was still a member of the European Union at that time. As a result, whiskey exports to the USA collapsed by 30 percent.
At the beginning of the year, Great Britain had for its part lifted punitive tariffs imposed by the EU on many US products as a peace offer. The country emphasizes that, thanks to the completed Brexit, it will be able to conclude trade contracts itself again. Talks about a free trade agreement with the USA continued to stall.
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