Customs duties: negotiations still ongoing and many gray areas
Despite the agreements announced by the White House on Thursday, August 7, trade negotiations between the United States and its trading partners are far from over, according to The Wall Street Journal. Governments and major companies are still trying to secure exemptions—and everyone fears further disruption.
In the early hours of Thursday, August 7, Donald Trump took to his Truth Social network to congratulate himself that “billions of dollars in tariffs are now flowing into the United States of America.” But behind the scenes, negotiators are still working to amend agreements that are far from being finalized. “Key details of many agreements reached so far remain unclear,” notes The Wall Street Journal . “In some cases, they are being interpreted differently by each party.”
A key part of the negotiations concerns the list of exempted products. The European Union (EU), Japan, and South Korea are among the countries that have reached agreements, “ but their negotiators continue to plead with US officials to obtain preferential treatment for certain sectors.”
The EU still expects some of its exports, such as aircraft and their components, to be considered “strategic goods” and exempt from the 15% tariff . Its envoys also continue to fight for exemptions for chemicals, generic medicines “and even wine and spirits.”
“European companies are also making their case.”
Courrier International
