EU Sees More U.S. Trade Talks After ‘Constructive’ Hogan Visit
EU Sees More U.S. Trade Talks After ‘Constructive’ Hogan Visit
(Bloomberg) --
European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan had a “useful and constructive” meeting in Washington on Thursday with his U.S. counterpart, according to an EU official.
Hogan’s get-together with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will be followed by “further meetings” between both sides as the EU seeks to defuse transatlantic commercial tensions, the official said on the condition of anonymity.
The EU aims to renew a July 2018 trade truce that has been fraying in recent months. Chief among Europe’s worries is a lingering U.S. threat to hit EU cars and auto parts with duties based on national-security grounds.
Hogan’s trip to Washington this week may help pave the way for a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed at a meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last month to discuss transatlantic commerce in the American capital. No dates have been set for a visit by her.
Hogan may be seeking clearer signals about what the Trump administration would accept before making a concrete EU offer, especially after U.S. officials signaled that European plans to ease imports of foods such as shellfish wouldn’t cut it.
The commission, the EU’s executive arm, has signaled that any renewed transatlantic trade pact would include matters related to foods, energy and technology.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan Stearns in Brussels at jstearns2@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Ana Monteiro, Jeff Kearns
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