The European Commission, which had announced its intention to respond to the United States' new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum in two stages, changed its mind. In the end, it will present its retaliation plan, in full, in mid-April, whereas it had originally planned for a first package of retaliatory measures on April 1 and a second a fortnight later.
Indeed, Donald Trump warned that a new salvo of tariffs would be announced on April 2. "It'll be 25%, generally speaking, and that will be on cars and all other things," said the American president on February 26. In this context, Brussels prefers to have a broader view of the American offensive before it comes up with a response.
But that's not all. Some EU member states also insisted on this new timing. France was first among them, but also Italy, Spain and Ireland. The first package of retaliatory measures, which contained, among other things, increased tariffs on bourbon, angered Trump and he threatened to respond in turn with "200%" tariffs on European wines, champagnes and spirits.
Against this backdrop, Europe's biggest alcoholic beverage producers have considered it important to hold off on new measures. It remains to be seen whether American bourbon will still be on the list when the Commission presents its package in mid-April. The EU body has reiterated that it would be careful, with its retaliatory measures, to do as little harm as possible to EU member states, all of which will, undoubtedly, defend their interests.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.