(1)

On 20 June 2018, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886 (2) that provides for the application of additional customs duties on imports into the Union of specified products originating in the United States of America (‘the United States’).

(2)

On 7 April 2020, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/502 (3) that provides for the application of additional customs duties on imports into the Union of certain other products originating in the United States.

(3)

The additional customs duties imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/502 were aimed at counter-balancing the safeguard measures in the form of additional customs duties which the United States had introduced on the basis of section 232 of the United States’ Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on imports of specified steel and aluminium products originating in the Union, with effect from 1 June 2018, and on imports of steel and aluminium derivative products originating in the Union, with effect from 8 February 2020.

(4)

On 18 December 2023, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882 suspending, until 31 March 2025, the additional ad valorem duties imposed by Implementing Regulations (EU) 2018/886 and (EU) 2020/502 (4).

(5)

On 10 February 2025, the United States reintroduced its safeguard measures in the form of additional customs duties on imports of steel and aluminium products and of steel and aluminium derivative products originating, inter alia, in the Union, at the initial levels of 25 % and 10 % ad valorem, respectively, with effect from 12 March 2025 (5).

(6)

The Union needs to calibrate the scope of its rebalancing rights under GATT 1994, so as to factor in past and announced developments of the trade relationship between the Union and the United States.

(7)

It is therefore necessary to prolong the ongoing suspension for a further short period in order to provide, inter alia, additional opportunities for cooperation with the United States, including with a view to resolving the controversy over the respective tariffs and before custom duties start to be applied again as from 15 April 2025.

(8)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9)

This Regulation is independent of and without prejudice to the Union’s position that the safeguard measures of the United States remain incompatible with the WTO Agreement.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Trade Barriers Committee, established by Regulation (EU) 2015/1843 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6),

(1)

in Article 1, ‘31 March 2025’ is replaced by ‘14 April 2025’;

(2)

in Article 2, ‘31 March 2025’ is replaced by ‘14 April 2025’.