Norway warns of risk of further US tariff hikes after talks end without resolution
Geopolitics
Norway has warned that the United States could impose additional import tariffs in the coming months after trade talks between officials from the two countries in Washington failed to reach a resolution. Norway is currently subject to an additional 12.5 percent US tariff, higher than the maximum 10 percent rate faced by the European Union. Andreas Kravik, Norway's deputy foreign minister, said after meeting with Jeff Goettman, deputy US trade representative, that there is a real possibility Norway could face even higher tariff rates, and that the government needs to assess the situation realistically. The United States is investigating Norway, the EU, and 14 other countries over production structure and excess capacity issues, which could lead to further trade measures. Norway has called on the United States to remove the additional 12.5 percent tariff, saying it puts Norwegian goods at a disadvantage compared with the EU, and is accelerating legislation against forced labour along the same lines as the EU. Although the United States accounts for only 3.8 percent of Norway's total exports, the salmon farming industry is already being clearly affected.
