Call for inclusion over steel tariffs

Date: 14/03/02

By Craig Winneker

ENLARGEMENT countries should be included in any action taken by the Union to counter new US tariffs on imported steel, says Slovakia's foreign minister.

Speaking at a Brussels conference, Eduard Kukan said 'candidate countries should be taken under the umbrella of the EU' if the bloc moves to offset duties announced last week by Washington. 'The EU and the candidate countries should get together,' he said. 'It is very important...to act jointly.'

Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said last week the Union would retaliate swiftly against the US duties, which take effect on 20 March. The Union is seeking €2.2 billion in compensation for the 30 tariffs and is considering other measures. But Kukan admitted the issue was 'tricky' - and not only because eastern European steel could end up being dumped on EU markets.

Another problem for Slovakia is that its main producer - the formerly state-controlled VSZ - is owned by US Steel, a chief beneficiary of the American tariffs. The Pittsburgh-based firm is a 'sound basis of our economy', Kukan said.

A commission spokesman said this week that under World Trade Organisation rules the EU could not specifically protect candidate countries unless they were inundated by a surge of cheap imports.

Enlargement countries should be included in any action taken by the European Union to counter new US tariffs on imported steel, says Slovakia's foreign minister, Eduard Kukan.