According to Petříček, this is an economically sensitive topic and the arrival of Biden could contribute to the improvement of trade relations between Europe and the USA. The EU intends to impose tariffs on imports of goods from the US worth four billion dollars (89.5 billion CZK) per year in retaliation for subsidies provided by Washington to the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Governments in most EU countries have already backed tariffs, Reuters said, citing information from European diplomats. The introduction of tariffs was approved by the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the end of October.
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Customs are the latest step in a transatlantic dispute over aid to aircraft manufacturers that has been going on for 16 years. The US has previously imposed tariffs on European goods due to subsidies by European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The new tariffs introduced by the Union should affect American aircraft and their components, fruit, nuts and other agricultural products, orange juice, some spirits and other goods from construction machinery to tables for casinos.
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Petříček stated that the USA is an important partner of the Czech Republic and the EU and the issue of concluding a trade agreement between the EU and the United States is one of the main priorities. He would also like a quick agreement on trade rules in general, including the reform of the World Trade Organization. According to Petříček, American policy cannot be expected to change fundamentally under Biden’s leadership. However, he thinks that protectionism will carry less weight than under Donald Trupm’s presidency.
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According to Jiří Kobza, a member of the SPD and Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, the key moment of American foreign policy is the entry of Kamala Harrisová into the position of Vice President, because it was she who mentioned key diplomatic issues in the campaign. STAN chairman Vít Rakušan mentioned in the discussion that Biden is a centrist and is coming to unite the Americans. Therefore, according to him, no major change can be expected in American foreign policy, but rather a change in some of its accents.
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Biden is expected to work to resolve disputes with Brussels and unite with the EU in the fight against China. In negotiations for retaliation for subsidies for aircraft manufacturers, a friendly solution could thus be found as a gesture of goodwill on the part of the United States. Even in the event of Biden’s victory, current President Donald Trump will remain in office until January 20, leaving plenty of time to raise tariffs on goods from Europe.
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