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business Monday 2 noveMber 2020
EU faces knotty trade fights with U.S. _ no matter who wins

By DAVID McHUGH sage by dropping the tar-
AP Business Writer iffs that Trump slapped on
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) European steel and alumi-
— After winemakers, cook- num, enraging the Europe-
ie bakers, and olive grow- ans and other allies by call-
ers wound up as collateral ing their metals a threat to
damage, Europe is closely U.S. national security. The
watching the U.S. presi- so-called Article 232 pro-
dential election, waiting to ceeding both hurts Euro-
see whether the next four pean producers and raises
years will mean more tar- the cost of steel for Ameri-
iff wars under Republican can companies. Europe
President Donald Trump or retaliated by raising tariffs
a shift toward less confron- on U.S.-made motorcycles,
tational negotiation under bourbon, peanut butter
Democratic challenger and jeans.
Joe Biden. Claudia Schmucker, a
It's no secret that European trade expert at the German
officials are more in tune Council on Foreign Rela-
with Biden's stated intent tions, said that "it would be
to improve transatlantic re- a major sign of willingness
lations. But no matter who In this file photo dated Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, American President Donald Trump speaks during a to work with the EU" if Biden
wins, fundamental disputes campaign rally at the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville, Pa, USA. Associated Press were to announce shortly
that erupted — or in some after taking office that he
cases, merely worsened — times, "there are bilateral by tariffs imposed by the organization. intends to suspend the
under Trump may not be irritants, there always have U.S. after the World Trade Tariffs have also hit French, steel and aluminum tariffs,
quick or easy to resolve. been and there always will Organization ruled Euro- German, Spanish and UK much as Trump repudiated
In particular, Europe's push be. It's the nature of trade, pean governments had wine as well as raspberry the Trans-Pacific Partner-
for digital taxes on Ameri- they're going to be there broken the rules with subsi- and lingonberry jam from ship trade deal with Asian
can tech behemoths like — and they have to be re- dies for Airbus. The German France and Germany, for countries excluding China
Google and Amazon could solved." confectionery association, instance. Matters could es- as one of his first official
mean friction no matter And that is fraught with with known by its German ac- calate if the EU imposes tar- acts. There are hopes Biden
who is in the White House. consequences for the 16 ronym BDSI, says that af- iffs on U.S. products in retali- would take a more rules-
Likewise with the dispute million workers on both sides fected producers have lost ation for tax breaks given in based approach based on
over government support whose jobs are supported 30% of their export volume the past to Boeing. the World Trade Organiza-
for Europe's aircraft maker by transatlantic trade, the in the first half of this year. Trump has used strong tion, an international forum
Airbus and America's Boe- biggest such relationship in "The small and mid-size, language about Europe's for resolving trade disputes.
ing, which dates to well the global economy. Tit-for- mostly family run enter- trade surplus with the U.S., But analysts caution those
before Trump. And don't tat tariffs over the past four prises have overnight and saying that the EU is "worse with such high hopes might
forget Europe's longstand- years have affected com- through no fault of their than China" and "has been be disappointed: Biden "will
ing ban on U.S. chicken panies and people making own lost a substantial mar- treating us very badly" with focus on U.S. national inter-
treated with chlorine. and selling a whole host of ket, which they built up "barriers that are incred- ests and U.S. economic re-
Chad P. Bown, senior fellow goods. and with great effort over ible." covery, and if he has a feel-
at the Peterson Institute for Among them are German decades," said Andreas Some observers have ex- ing that this would be detri-
International Economics, makers of sweet biscuits, Nickenig, chair of the fine pressed the hope that mental he might not do it,"
says that even in friendlier who have been sideswiped baked goods sector of the Biden could send a mes- Schmucker said. q
Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings owner buying Dunkin' Brands

NEW YORK (AP) — Dunkin' Dunkin', based in Canton, taurants and Rusty Taco.
doughnuts and coffee is Massachusetts, also owns It has annual sales of more
being combined with Buf- the Baskin-Robbins ice than $14 billion.
falo Wild Wings and Arby's cream chain. There are Inspire is part of the private
sandwiches. 12,500 Dunkin' stores and equity company Roark
Inspire Brands Inc. said 8,000 Baskin-Robbins out- Capital Group, also based
Friday that it is acquiring lets worldwide. in Atlanta. Roark also backs
Dunkin' Brands Group Inc. Dunkin' was founded in Focus Brands — the owner
for $11.3 billion, including 1950 in Quincy, Massa- of Auntie Anne's Pretzels
the Dunkin' Brands' debt chusetts. Baskin-Robbins and Cinnabon — and CKE
that Inspire will be taking — known for its promise of Restaurants, which owns
on. 31 flavors — was founded the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's
The private-equity firm will in 1945 in Glendale, Cali- burger chains.
pay $106.50 in cash for all fornia. The deal will give Inspire
of Dunkin' Brands' shares, Atlanta's Inspire Brands, a spot in the breakfast
which closed Friday at which was founded in category, which was the This May 7, 2020, file photo, shows a Dunkin' Donuts at the
$99.71. Dunkin' Brands' 2018, is rapidly joining the fastest-growing segment Greater Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon, Pa.
Associated Press
stock surged to an all-time largest restaurant groups in of the restaurant industry
high earlier this week after the U.S. In addition to Buf- before the pandemic hit. sales. Dunkin' Brands's sys- quarter and the company
the company confirmed falo Wild Wings and Arby's, The acquisition comes as temwide sales fell 1.3% in said franchisees closed
the two were in merger it owns the Sonic burger the global pandemic has the third quarter after tum- 553 restaurants perma-
talks. chain, Jimmy John's res- hammered restaurants' bling 21% in the second nently. q