EU again calls for permanent exemption

According to Reuters, the European Commission stated on May 1 that President Trump’s decision to postpone the European Union’s tariff collection on steel and aluminum prolonged commercial uncertainty and reiterated his call for permanent EU immunity. On the same day, a spokesperson for the German government also asked the US to grant the EU permanent immunity.

The European Commission expressed its appreciation to Trump for this decision, but believes that the EU should be permanently waived because the EU is not responsible for the excess capacity of steel and aluminum. "The U.S. decision has extended market uncertainty, which has affected business decisions." The committee said, "The EU should be completely and permanently exempt from these tariffs, because these measures cannot be based on national security."