EU trade chief warns Biden over 'Buy American' push

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico Europe


Valdis Dombrovskis says EU will track whether US is straying outside WTO commitments.

BY JAKOB HANKE VELA
February 18, 2021 1:53 pm

Europe's trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis has fired a warning shot at new U.S. President Joe Biden over his plans to press U.S. authorities to "Buy American."

In an interview with POLITICO and other media, Dombrovskis said the EU, the world's biggest trade bloc, would closely monitor whether preferential treatment for U.S. contractors on public projects contravened international commitments.

"We will be assessing to which extent the U.S. complies with its [World Trade Organization] commitments under the global procurement agreement," he said.

U.S. President Joe Biden has already started tightening U.S. rules that force federal authorities to buy from American suppliers. This could run foul of Washington's commitments at the World Trade Organization (WTO), under which it wins access to other countries' public procurement markets in exchange for keeping its own market open.




Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/joe-biden-valdis-dombrovskis-eu-trade-chief-warns-over-buy-american-push/

[Bayard]

1. I'm sure Biden has thought of that

He can do both.

[stopdiggin]

2. yes, but ...

Keeping to our agreements and commitments (as opposed to you know who) should be a priority, particularly as a new administration gains its footing. And sending the right message at this point -- is almost as important as the substance of any changes.
(my two cents)