The diverging political interests of the United States and Europe towards Romania are not exactly breaking news, as the disputes have often found their way in public statements. However, things are different where business is concerned, as, even if differences of opinion did exist at some point, they were usually overcome very discretely.
However, as Romania must take all the necessary steps to join the European Union, things are beginning to change and the American officials are sternly voicing the dissatisfaction of US-based companies with the accession conditions that have been imposed upon Romania.
In an interview to Ziarul Financiar, Joseph Bogosian, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce criticises the economic policy applied by the European Union to Romania. Bogosian, who was appointed to this position by the American President George W. Bush, came to Romania for two days, heading a delegation comprising 15 senior officials of leading aerospace and defence companies such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.
The trade mission’s members met with officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Transports, the Industry Ministry and several Romanian aerospace companies.
“During talks with our Romanian partners, we have been told of disheartening aspects related to the European Union. Conditions have been imposed on Romania by the EU, mainly Germany and France, which are against the country’s commercial interests. Political pressure is being mounted so that Romania would do things it shouldn’t do: buy products it does not need, cut down customs tariffs for the EU and, at the same time, increase them for the United States,” Joseph Bogosian stated.
The interest of American companies in Romania and its customs policy surged after NATO extended the accession invitation this year. Joining the North-Atlantic Organisation triggers substantial investments in modernising the Army and the related fields, which translates into acquisitions of military equipment and logistics. And US-based companies such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northon Grumman are among the world’s leading companies in this particular industry.
If the defence expenses are considered, together with the money needed to modernise Romanian infrastructure (highways, utilities, transports), this market will soar to several billion dollars in the next few years. And competition between American and European companies is set to become fiercer.
On the other hand, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Bucharest, Jonathan Scheele, denies the existence of the alleged EU practices mentioned by Bogosian.
“I am not aware of exactly what practices the US official is referring to. I would however note that tariff treatment of US products in Romania is governed by Romania’s obligations under the WTO, while products from the EU are imported duty-free on the basis of the EU-Romania Association Agreement, which is entirely consistent with the WTO obligations of both the EU and Romania,” Scheele said. laurentiu.ispir@zf.ro