Europe

The European Union on Tuesday unveiled two new legislative proposals on digital services and markets, prompting pushback from U.S. trade associations that called the possible moves protectionist and discriminatory.

The U.S. should “embrace” Europe’s recent overture to improve trade relations with the U.S. and forge a new arrangement to counter China’s “intensifying” ambitions, House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) said this week.

The United Kingdom will suspend retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. as part of the long-running Airbus-Boeing dispute to show it is “serious” about a negotiated settlement, the country’s trade department announced on Tuesday, saying it hoped to “de-escalate” trade conflicts – but retaining duties imposed in response to the Trump administration’s Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum.

“France’s decision to collect a discriminatory digital services tax next month represents an escalation against American employers and leave more U.S. industries open to unfair foreign taxes.”

The European Commission should use the momentum generated by a limited tariff deal with the U.S. to advance toward a “broader cooperation agreement” that goes beyond tariff reductions, members of the European Parliament argue in a resolution under debate this week.

The European Union, Canada, Japan and 10 other countries on Monday pledged to launch an initiative on medical supplies aimed at identifying steps World Trade Organization members can take to facilitate trade and better position countries amid the public health crisis.

With President-elect Joe Biden set to take over the Oval Office in January, the United Kingdom is preparing to make its case to the new administration for quickly finishing the in-progress bilateral trade deal, according to a British official familiar with the matter – but the effort is up against a narrow timeframe and unknown Biden trade priorities.

“Following adoption of the EP’s position at first reading, the Council will be called upon to formally adopt the Regulation so that it can be published in the Official Journal and enter into force.”

France has begun trying to collect digital services taxes, sources tell Inside U.S. Trade, with several U.S. companies receiving invoices earlier this week.