"Jobs Are in Danger": Unions with Strong Criticism of EU Customs Compromise

The unions PRO-GE and GPA are concerned about Austria's industry following the agreement in the tariff dispute between the USA and the EU. "Jobs are at risk," they stated in a release on Wednesday. They are calling for renegotiations and a strengthening of the EU internal market. There is criticism of the promised purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the USA.

Unions: EU zero tariffs are a "concession"

It is positive that the US tariffs are lower at 15 percent than threatened. "The EU zero tariffs on imports from the USA are nevertheless an incredibly large concession," Reinhold Binder (Federal Chairman PRO-GE) and Mario Ferrari (Federal Managing Director GPA) are quoted as saying in the release.

With regard to the still existing tariffs of 50 percent on steel and aluminum imports, the employee representatives are calling on Chancellor Christian Stocker and Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (both ÖVP) to advocate for renegotiations in Brussels, "but without sacrificing European standards in the areas of occupational safety or the environment."

Focus on strengthening the European internal market

The USA under US President Donald Trump is "no longer a reliable partner." Therefore, Europe must focus on its internal market and strengthen it. "To do this, we must become as independent as possible from imports from third countries, especially in basic materials, medical products, and energy," demand the unionists, who see an important contribution in the recycling industry here.

Sharp criticism of EU's liquefied gas purchases

The promise by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to purchase larger quantities of liquefied gas (LNG) from the USA is described as "unacceptable." "With LNG, we are now making ourselves dependent on the USA instead of Russia, and with a contractually agreed purchase volume, the market is also being overridden," say PRO-GE and GPA.

(APA/Red)

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