EU May Delay First Counter-tariffs against US to Mid-April

FILE PHOTO: European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium August 21, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium August 21, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
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EU May Delay First Counter-tariffs against US to Mid-April

FILE PHOTO: European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium August 21, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium August 21, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

The European Union could delay imposition of a first set of counter-measures against the United States over President Donald Trump's steel and aluminium tariffs until mid-April, European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on Thursday.

The European Commission had proposed re-imposing tariffs on 4.5 billion euros ($4.9 billion) of US products on April 1, followed by hitting a further 18 billion euros of US goods on April 13, Reuters said.

"We are now considering to align the timing of the two sets of EU counter-measures so we can consult with member states on both lists simultaneously, and this would also give us extra time for negotiations with our American partners," Sefcovic told a hearing at the European Parliament.

The first set of EU counter-measures includes applying a 50% tariff on US bourbon. Trump threatened to slap a 200% tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products coming from the EU if the bloc went ahead with this.

The Trump administration is also planning further tariffs on April 2.

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Sunday that the EU was probably mistaken in targeting American whiskey, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni cautioned EU partners on Tuesday against escalating the trade dispute with the United States.

"I am not certain that responding to tariffs with more tariffs is necessarily a good deal," Meloni, who is close to Trump, said.



Saudi Chemicals Group SABIC Reports Q1 Net Loss of $323 Million

File photo: SABIC accounted for approximately 69% of the sector’s net profits in Q2 2024, with an 85% growth. (SABIC)
File photo: SABIC accounted for approximately 69% of the sector’s net profits in Q2 2024, with an 85% growth. (SABIC)
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Saudi Chemicals Group SABIC Reports Q1 Net Loss of $323 Million

File photo: SABIC accounted for approximately 69% of the sector’s net profits in Q2 2024, with an 85% growth. (SABIC)
File photo: SABIC accounted for approximately 69% of the sector’s net profits in Q2 2024, with an 85% growth. (SABIC)

Saudi chemicals giant SABIC 2010.SE reported a net loss of 1.21 billion Saudi riyals ($323 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a profit of 0.25 billion riyals a year ago.
The company said in February that it planned to cut costs and find new investment opportunities, after reporting worse than expected fourth-quarter results against a sectoral backdrop dominated by margin pressures.
It also reported sales of 34.59 billion riyals in the first quarter of 2025, a 5.8% increase compared to 32.69 billion riyals a year earlier, reported Reuters.
The chemicals industry has been grappling with weak demand and high input costs, leading to lower prices and squeezed margins.