Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon taxed at 50%, La Réunion at 37%, Polynesia at 10%: the specific overseas customs duties announced on Wednesday by the Trump administration have triggered a mix of incomprehension and anger in the territories concerned, while mainland France and the European Union face uniform duties of 20%.
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The decision by Donald Trump to impose different customs duties on overseas territories than on mainland France for products imported into the United States reflects a «combination of inconsistencies, absurdity, and incompetence,» reacted the Minister of Overseas Territories on Thursday, April 3. «The reduction of customs duties is a legacy of peace.
Manuel Valls a commenté en disant que cette décision rappelle les erreurs des États-Unis dans les années 20 et 30. Les nouvelles surtaxes douanières américaines imposent des niveaux de taxation différents aux départements et territoires ultramarins français, par rapport à la France hexagonale et à l’Union Européenne. Par exemple, La Réunion sera taxée à 37%, alors que la Chine est taxée à 34%, ce qui est assez curieux selon la présidente de la délégation sénatoriale aux Outre-mer, Micheline Jacques. Elle craint que cela refroidisse les perspectives d’ouverture vers les États-Unis.
Le député de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Stéphane Lenormand, a qualifié l’administration américaine d’incompétente pour avoir utilisé une base de données datant de la prohibition. Selon Ivan Odonnat, directeur général de l’Iedom-Ieom, les Américains ont choisi d’ignorer les subtilités juridiques concernant les territoires ultramarins français, considérant qu’ils sont surtout d’Outre-mer et à peine français. Cette vision est jugée étonnante par l’ancien ministre des Outre-mer et sénateur de la Guadeloupe, Victorin Lurel. C’est une remise en question de la présence française dans ces régions«, a-t-il estimé, cité par l’AFP.
Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon taxé à 50%, La Réunion à 37%, la Polynésie à 10%: les droits de douane spécifiques à l’outre-mer annoncés mercredi par l’administration Trump ont déclenché un mélange d’incompréhension et de colère dans les territoires concernés, alors que la France hexagonale et l’Union européenne écopent de droits uniformes de 20%.
Manuel Valls commented, «This decision recalls the mistakes of the United States in the 1920s and 30s.» The new customs duties imposed by the United States subject most of the French overseas departments and territories to individual tax levels, which are quite different from the 20% that will apply to mainland France and the European Union.
In addition to Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, and Mayotte, which will see their products taxed at 10%, Réunion, which enjoys the same legal status, will have its products taxed at 37%. The US government also plans to impose a 50% duty on products imported from the archipelago of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, but only 10% on those coming from French Polynesia, two territories that are not part of the European Union in the eyes of customs.
Micheline Jacques, the president of the Senate delegation for Overseas Territories, reacted by saying, «It’s quite strange, because when you compare territories like Réunion, which is part of the European Union and taxed at 37%, to China at 34%, it’s hard to understand.» She also expressed concern that «the prospects for opening up to the United States may be chilled.»
Stéphane Lenormand, the deputy from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, criticized the US administration, stating, «Donald Trump and his administration must have used a database dating back to Prohibition, when there were many flows.» He added, «For the rest, it reflects the incompetence of the American administration in general.»
According to Ivan Odonnat, the general director of Iedom-Ieom, the central bank of the French overseas territories, on paper, the overseas departments and regions (DROM), like Réunion, are an integral part of the EU customs territory. As such, they should be subject to the same taxation as the mainland, while the Overseas Collectivities (COM) have more tariff flexibility. However, Washington has apparently chosen to ignore these legal subtleties. Odonnat said, «The Americans have their own worldview. For them, the French overseas territories are mainly overseas and barely French.»
Victorin Lurel, former Minister of Overseas and Senator from Guadeloupe, found this perspective «astonishing.» He remarked, «It’s somewhat a challenge to the French presence in these territories.»
In conclusion, the decision to impose varying tax rates on French overseas territories by the United States has sparked criticism and confusion. It highlights the complexities of international trade and the importance of understanding legal frameworks and relationships between different territories. The repercussions of such actions on diplomatic relations and economic partnerships remain to be seen. The anchor texts of the links in
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