EU wants the US to start implementing the summer trade deal

On 24 November in Brussels, the European Union will call on US trade officials to start implementing more of the July EU-US compromise.

In particular, ministers want to see a reduction in the 50% tariffs on European steel and aluminium, which the US has extended since August to hundreds of derivative products such as motorcycles and refrigerators. According to diplomats, these steps threaten the very essence of the agreement.

US trade chief Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are in Brussels for the first time since taking office and will spend 90 minutes with the ministers at a working lunch.

The EU intends to stress that the agreement may take until March or April to be ratified by the European Parliament, but at the same time it is asking for a shift on outstanding issues.

In addition to metals, it wants to push for a reduction in tariffs on wine, spirits or olives and to discuss regulatory cooperation and a joint response to Chinese export restrictions.

(reuters, hal)