The administration of Donald trump with a persistence worthy of a better cause, continued to fight against the implementation of the project “Northern stream-2” in Europe. Secretary ilca Pompeo said that the US continues attempts to convince the EU of the construction of the pipeline.
”We are actively involved in attempts at convincing European governments and companies that increase in the dependence of energy from Russia are incompatible with what we are trying to achieve, opposing Russia,” Pompeo said at a hearing of the appropriations Committee of the Senate of the U.S. Congress.
The head of the Russian Ministry of energy Alexander Novak, who on the eve summed up the meeting with the Ministers of energy and the Treasury, said that Russia calls on the White house not to involve politics in the economic project. “I expressed the position that it is economically feasible for Europe project, in which interested European consumers, which is implemented by European companies in cooperation with “Gazprom”. And, of course, in order to Europe’s energy security and meet the needs of Europe in clean energy resources for the long term. The implementation of such infrastructure projects must be built on an economic basis, without any political assessments of this project,” said Novak journalists.
The white house opposes the project “Nord stream-2”, actively trying to block it.Possible restrictive measures in respect of the project participants are envisaged by the law “On counteraction to enemies of America by sanctions” (CAATSA) adopted in the U.S. last year.
However, the efforts of Washington do not give the desired result. The European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said that if the White house will impose sanctions against companies involved in the project “Northern stream-2”, Brussels will protect their economic interests.
Germany: the US does not intend to interfere with the “Nord stream-2”
Ministry of economy of Germany received from the US prior to ensure that sanctions are not yet common in pipelines with Russian participation.
“That’s what we told the US that they so far refuse sanctions against pipelines,” – said the representative of the Ministry on Friday at a briefing. According to her, “that’s all we have,” said RIA “Novosti”.
The project “Northern stream-2” involves the construction of two pipelines with a total capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year from the coast of Russia across the Baltic sea to the German coast. The new pipeline will be built next to the existing “Northern stream”.
Gazprom has said it is ready to save the transit of gas through Ukraine after 2019, if Kiev will prove the economic viability of the contract. The transit of Russian gas through Ukraine may be after 2019 10-15 billion cubic meters per year.
US urges European countries to stop participating in the project “Northern stream-2” and threatens sanctions for those who do not fulfill this requirement. In return Russian gas, the U.S. promoting its own with the construction of LNG regasification terminals in Europe.
Russia launched a trade dispute with the United States to the WTO
The world trade organization has notified the country about the start of the trial on the issue of U.S. duties on steel and aluminum following a complaint from Russia.
The WTO received the request of Russia about the beginning of the dispute about the legality of the use of U.S. import duties on steel and aluminum. In a press release, the organization notes that the authorities of the Russian Federation are seen in actions of the United States violation of previously signed trade agreements.
“The Russian Federation has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States on the issue of American duties on certain imported steel products and aluminium. The request was circulated on 2 July among WTO members.
Russia claims that the US tariff of 25% and 10% on imported steel products and aluminum do not meet the provisions of the WTO Agreement on tariffs and trade 1994 and the Agreement on protective measures”.
Based on this query this is the seventh complaint to the US tariff on steel and aluminum initiated by countries in the WTO. Earlier complaints about the actions of the US to the WTO filed by the European Union, India, Canada, China, Norway and Mexico.
