Ultimatum trump: US Merkel threaten a trade war over the “Nord stream-2”
The German Chancellor warned Washington that the EU will conduct trade negotiations with the United States only on their own terms.
The US President Donald trump has threatened the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the transatlantic trade war if Berlin will continue to support the project of the pipeline “Nord stream-2”. This was announced on Thursday, may 17, the Agency Dow Jones referring to the German, American and European government officials.
According to them, the meeting in Washington in April this year, the White house said Merkel, that Germany should abandon support for the project “Nord stream-2”. And in return, the US will start negotiations with the EU on a new trade agreement.
If the question is about a new trade agreement is not settled, since June 1, the EU may be faced with protective tariffs, the US on imported steel and aluminum.
On Friday, may 18, Merkel will arrive in Sochi for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is implied that the talks will be discussed, including the theme of a new pipeline under the Baltic sea, which is to supply Russian natural gas to Germany.
The United States against the “Nord stream-2”
On the eve of important meetings in Sochi loud statements about the “Northern stream-2” was made by the Deputy assistant Secretary of state for energy diplomacy Sandra Odekirk. “We would be happy if the project did not take place”, she said, the implementation of the “Nord stream-2” will increase the “pernicious influence” of Russia in Europe.
Oudkerk said that Washington is counting on his powers of persuasion in order to stop the project. But reminded that the law “On countering the enemies of America by sanctions” (CAATSA) signed by trump 2 August 2017 and entered into force on 29 January 2018, and the suspicion of involvement in Moscow’s intervention in the U.S. presidential election in November 2016, giving America the right to oppose any energy projects in Russia.
“This means that any pipeline project — and this applies to many pipeline projects worldwide — are at increased risk of sanctions”, — said on may 17 in Berlin, Oudkerk (quoted by the Associated Press).
Diplomat of the US state Department also noted that the new pipeline would give Moscow the opportunity to establish in the Baltic sea reconnaissance equipment. And will allow Russia to deprive Ukraine of revenue from the transit of Russian gas through its territory.
Kiev strongly opposed the “Nord stream-2”, evaluating economic losses of Ukraine from the start of the project in the 3% of GDP ($3 billion).
In 2017, Russia’s gas exports to the EU grew by 8.4% and reached 194,4 billion cubic meters (Gazprom’s share on the EU market increased during the year from 33.1% to 34.7%). After the commissioning of the “Nord stream-2” Russia can supply Europe with 110 billion cubic meters of gas annually, given the current 2012 of the pipeline “Nord stream”, also bypassing Ukraine.
Currently, the volume of Russian gas transit through the territory of Ukraine is 94 billion cubic metres After 2020, this figure could fall to 15 billion cubic meters. “Sorry for the harsh words, but the “Nord stream-2″ is a political bribe for loyalty to Russia to organize an economic and energy blockade against Ukraine and cause us heavy damage,” said April 8 the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.
Diplomat of the US state Department, Oudkerk also commented on efforts by Germany with the goal to make Russia guarantees gas transit to Europe via Ukraine. “We don’t believe in the effectiveness of these safeguards,” she said.