EU set for trade talks with US amid concern over tariffs
Top officials to discuss progress in obtaining a negotiating mandate for a deal on industrial goods
Brussels — The EU’s top trade officials will update their US counterparts this week on progress in obtaining a negotiating mandate for a EU-US trade deal on industrial goods and raise concern over existing and potential future US tariffs. EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom will meet US trade representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday in Washington and the secretary-general of the European Commission, Martin Selmayr, will meet Larry Kudlow, the director of the US National Economic Council on Thursday. The EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, has the sole responsibility for negotiating trade deals for the 28-nation bloc of 513-million people and has been in close discussions with Washington over trade policy since July 2018 to avert the threat of US tariffs on EU cars and car parts. The commission has asked member countries to approve two negotiating mandates so formal talks can begin. Germany is keen to start quickly, while France is reluctant.
“The discussions ...
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