European chocolates, olives and 28 other items could be hit with $3.1 billion in new US tariffs

European olives, chocolate, gin and beer made with malt are among the latest products that could be hit with steep tariffs as part of a US-European dispute over government subsidies to aircraft makers.

The US Trade Representative announced a list of 30 total products that could be subjected to new tariffs, noting the United States imports about $3.1 billion of these goods annually from Europe.

The United States already levied 15% to 25% tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of other European goods as part of this dispute. The new items could be hit with tariffs of as much as 100%, according to the notice.

The World Trade Organization has already sided with the United States in the dispute, which goes back to 2004. The WTO concluded in 2018 that the European Union helped Airbus (EADSF) with unfair subsidies that hurt sales of US-based Boeing’s wide-body jets.

That decision opened the way for the United States to put tariffs on European goods.

The WTO also found that Boeing (BA) had received improper tax breaks from Washington state. The state removed the tax breaks earlier this year, but the European Union is still threatening to put tariffs on US goods in response to the earlier ruling.

Now, with the announcement of the new tariffs, the agency will start to hear comments from those who will be affected. Beyond the food and beverage items, most of the 30 items on the list are business tools such as metal stamping and punching equipment.

The EU criticized the US announcement, saying it is possible these next round of tariffs could go beyond what is allowed by the WTO.

“It creates uncertainty for companies and inflicts unnecessary economic damage on both sides of the Atlantic,” said the EU in its statement. “This is particularly the case as companies are now trying to overcome the economic difficulties in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis.”

It said the only way to settle the dispute is through negotiations. It said it made “concrete proposals” to resolve the underlying aircraft dispute.

Tariffs are typically paid by American consumers if the exporter does not pay the cost of the tax itself. Some businesses which have been hit by previous tariffs were quick to object to this latest action.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, which said its members have already lost hundreds of millions in sales from other earlier rounds of tariffs on both sides, said it is concerned this latest action will only lead to more escalation.

“EU and US distilled spirits companies have suffered enough as a result of this trade war,” said the trade group. “The longer these disputes go unresolved, the greater the threat of even more tariffs on our industry.”

The production line of Boeing's Everett factory in Seattle, Washington, USA, 06 November 2019. Boeing production line, Seattle, USA - 11 Nov 2019

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