Possible future risks of retaliatory trade measures for the agricultural and automotive sectors

Question for written answer  E-005930/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Massimo Casanova (ID)

The Commission is shortly to come forward with legislative proposals to regulate large digital companies (so-called ‘gatekeepers’), whose influence has increased exponentially in recent years. According to the Commission, the EU accounts for only 4 % of the capitalisation of major online platforms: the companies to be regulated are therefore mostly American or Chinese.

While it is highly desirable for the EU to pursue digital sovereignty policies that facilitate and support the development of the European digital sector, recent experience has shown that the US is prepared to take retaliatory measures when it believes that the EU is discriminating against US companies. In this case too, therefore, the US could decide to impose new tariffs, to the detriment of European sectors such as agriculture and the automotive sector, which have already been severely affected by the pandemic crisis.

In view of the above, can the Commission say:

• 1.how it intends to ensure that the new proposals do not contain any elements that could be used as a pretext for the US to call them discriminatory or protectionist, and thus to take retaliatory measures;
• 2.what measures it is considering taking in order to support economic sectors (agriculture and automotive sector) which could be affected by any new duties and tariffs?