The administration of US President Donald Trump has warned the European Union that there will be consequences if American defense companies are forced out of the European market.

According to Politico, USA officials said they would respond with countermeasures if Brussels introduces a strict ‘Buy European’ requirement in its defense procurement rules – allowing only weapons manufactured within the EU to be purchased.

The United States emphasized that it ‘strongly opposes’ restrictions on American firms and rejects what it called a ‘protectionist and exclusionary policy’ that ‘pushes U.S companies out of the market.’

What the USA could do in response

In response to such actions by Europe, Washington could reconsider exemptions under existing defense trade agreements, potentially limiting EU companies’ access to US government contracts.

In effect, this would mean that the United States would close access for European companies.

“Going forward, any future exemptions will be considered on a contract-by-contract basis and only when deemed necessary to support NATO interoperability and standardization requirements,” the US emphasized.

About 19 of the 27 EU member state capitals have signed such agreements with Washington. These agreements allow European companies to compete for certain contracts with the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, journalists note a certain paradox in the US approach toward Europe:

“Although the Trump administration has repeatedly told Europeans that it wants them to take primary responsibility for the continent’s conventional defense, the United States does not want this to happen at the expense of pushing American defense companies out of the market,” Politico emphasized.

The USA also argues that giving preference to domestic manufacturers would contradict the EU’s commitments under a trade agreement signed last summer. (MILITARNYI)

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