Title : DOES AMERICA FIRST MEAN AMERICA ALONE?
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DOES AMERICA FIRST MEAN AMERICA ALONE?
U.S. Downgraded E.U.’s Diplomatic Status (but Didn’t Say Anything)
By: Steven Erlanger
The New York Times
08 January 2019
BRUSSELS — The Trump administration downgraded the diplomatic status of the European Union’s delegation to the United States last year without making a formal announcement or informing the bloc about the change, a European official said on Tuesday.
After protest from Brussels and discussion between the European Union and the Trump administration, the reclassification of the delegation and the consequent demotion of the ambassador, David O’Sullivan, is understood to have been reversed, at least temporarily, the official said.
Mr. Trump has been critical of multilateral institutions, and his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, delivered a provocative speech in Brussels on Dec. 4 in which he questioned the value of multinational organizations and institutions like the United Nations and the European Union. Mr. Pompeo then asked whether the European Union was “ensuring that the interests of countries and their citizens are placed before those of bureaucrats here in Brussels.”
The next day, the European Union’s demotion from a member state to an international organization became clear at the funeral of President George Bush, when Mr. O’Sullivan’s name was not called in the expected order, dictated by diplomatic protocols. The names of diplomats who had gathered in Washington to pay their respects were spoken, as is custom, from the longest-serving to the newest ambassador, a European Union official told the German news agency Deutsche Welle. “But he was called up as the last person.”
Before the demotion, Mr. O’Sullivan, who has been ambassador to Washington since 2014, would have been ranked among the first 20 or 30 ambassadors of the more than 150 foreign representatives in Washington.
News of the change was first reported by Deutsche Welle.
“We understand there was a change in the way the diplomatic precedence list is implemented by the United States protocol, and we are currently discussing with relevant services in the administration possible implications for the E.U. delegation in Washington,” said Maja Kocijancic, the European Union’s chief spokeswoman for foreign affairs. “But ultimately this question should be directed to the U.S. administration.”
The United States Embassy in Brussels said it would consult with Washington before responding.
Mr. Trump has made little secret of his antipathy toward the European Union, which he described in July as a “foe” of the United States when it comes to trade.
As Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain was scrambling in November to win support for an agreement with the European Union on her country’s withdrawal, Mr. Trump derisively referred to the deal as “great” for the bloc and said that it could prevent the United States from reaching a free-trade accord with Britain.
Those remarks came a month after Mr. Trump, in an interview on “60 Minutes,” said that “The European Union was formed in order to take advantage of us on trade, and that’s what they’ve done.” (The bloc was, in fact, created to expand cooperation, establish European citizenship and introduce a single monetary policy).
The European Union is expected to select a new ambassador to Washington soon, and it is not yet clear what status that envoy will have.
“The downgrade symbolizes the contempt the U.S. president has shown for the E.U. and its supranationalist nature,’’ said Daniela Schwarzer, director of the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin.
“In contrast to previous American administrations, the Trump administration has actively tried to undermine E.U. unity, on trade policy, for instance, which is a supranational E.U. competence,’’ Ms. Schwarzer said.
Trying to weaken the European Union may seem to Mr. Trump as an “opportunity to maximize short-term gains for the U.S.,’’ she said. And as Brussels tries to strengthen its international role, again in reaction to Mr. Trump, she said, “a lack of recognition by key partners that the E.U. is more than just an international organization, or even a withdrawal of that recognition, undermines these efforts.”
Ian Lesser, director of the German Marshall Fund office in Brussels, characterized the decision as “the latest in a series of negative signals from the administration regarding the place of the E.U. in the international order.”
“It is very much in line with the tough language from Secretary Pompeo in his recent Brussels speech,” he said. “Washington focuses on states and national sovereignty and the E.U. does not fit easily in this vision.”
The Trump administration has also been threatening a trade war with Brussels and the 28 member states of the bloc, insisting that a trade deficit in goods of about $150 billion a year needs to be reduced sharply. (Washington has a trade surplus in services with Brussels.) The move may be a way to increase pressure on Brussels to make more concessions in trade negotiations over steel, aluminum and cars.
NOTE: Once again we the people have been blindsided by the Trump Administration's penchant for secrecy. And why was this action taken in the first place? Because Trump "doesn't like the EU?" I guess this is it, right? The European Union is our second biggest trading partner overall (Goods and Services). Here are a few facts:
U.S. goods and services trade with the EU totaled nearly $1.1 trillion in 2016. Exports totaled $501 billion; Imports totaled $592 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit with the EU was $92 billion in 2016.
The United States had $686 billion in total (two ways) goods trade with the European Union during 2016, its largest Goods trade partner. Goods exports totaled $270 billion; Goods imports totaled $416 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the EU was $147 billion in 2016.
Trade in services with the EU (exports and imports) totaled an estimated $407 billion in 2016. Services exports were $231 billion; Services imports were $176 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with the EU was $55 billion in 2016.
According to the Department of Commerce, U.S. exports of Goods and Services to the EU supported an estimated 2.6 million in jobs in 2015 (latest data available) (1.2 million supported by goods exports and 1.4 million supported by services).
Exports
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The EU countries, together, would rank 1st as an export market for the United States in 2016.
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U.S. goods exports to the EU in 2016 were $269.6 billion down 0.8% ($2.3 billion) from 2015 but up 27% from 2006. U.S. exports to the EU accounted for 18.6% of overall U.S. goods exports in 2016.
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The five largest country markets were: United Kingdom ($55.3 billion), Germany ($49.4 billion), Netherlands ($39.7 billion), Belgium ($32.1 billion), and France ($31.1 billion).
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The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2016 were: Aircraft ($38.5 billion), Machinery ($29.4 billion), Pharmaceutical Products ($26.4 billion), Optic and Medical Instruments ($25.6 billion), and Electrical Machinery ($20.8 billion).
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U.S. domestic exports of agricultural products to the EU totaled $11.5 billion in 2016 (total exports of $11.8 billion). The EU countries together would rank 4th as an Ag Export Market for the United States. Leading categories include: tree nuts ($2.6 billion), soybeans ($1.9 billion), wine and beer ($756 million), and prepared food ($579 million),
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U.S. exports of services to the EU were $231.2 billion in 2016, up 1.2% ($4.1 billion) from 2015 and 60% since 2006. Top export sectors were professional and management services ($5Intellectual property ($50.2 billion), and travel (including education) ($40.4 billion).
Imports
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The EU countries together, would rank as the 2nd largest supplier of imports to the United States in 2016.
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U.S. goods imports from the EU totaled $416.4 billion in 2016, down 2.6% ($11.2 billion) from 2015, but up 25% from 2006. U.S. imports from the EU accounted for 19.0% of overall U.S. imports in 2016.
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The five largest country suppliers of imports are: Germany ($114.1 billion), United Kingdom ($54.3 billion), France ($46.7 billion), Ireland ($45.5 billion), and Italy ($45.3 billion).
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The five largest categories in 2016 were: Machinery ($64.9 billion), Pharmaceuticals Products ($55.2 billion), Vehicles ($54.6 billion), Optic and Medical Equipment ($27.5 billion), and Electrical Machinery ($26.8 billion).
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U.S. imports for consumption of agricultural products from EU countries totaled $20.6 billion in 2016 (total imports of $20.7 billion). The EU countries together rank 3rd (to Canada and Mexico) as a supplier of Ag imports to the United States. Leading categories include: wine and beer ($5.7 billion), essential oils ($2.5 billion), snack foods (including chocolate) ($1.5 billion), vegetable oils ($1.3 billion), and processed fruits and vegetables ($1.1 billion).
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U.S. imports of services from the EU were $176.5 billion in 2016, up 1.4% ($2.4 billion) from 2015, and up 35% since 2006. Top import sectors were travel (including education) ($37.0 billion), transport ($33.8 billion), and IPR ($18.9 billion).
Trade Balance
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The U.S. goods trade deficit with the EU was $146.8 billion in 2016, a 5.7% decrease ($8.9 billion) over 2015 The U.S. goods trade deficit with the EU accounted for 22.8% of the overall U.S. goods trade deficit in 2016.
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The United States has a services trade surplus of $54.8 billion with the EU in 2016, up 0.8% from 2015.
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