EU’s Juncker to meet Trump on tariffs standoff next week

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington next week in a bid to convince him to drop tariffs on metals and steer away from further duties on cars, reports AFP from Brussels.

Juncker, who heads the powerful executive arm of the 28-nation European Union, will travel to the White House on July 25 against a backdrop of deepening transatlantic tensions.

Trump imposed duties of 25 per cent on steel imports and 10 per cent on aluminium in March, but had given temporary exemptions to the EU and some other close trading partners as talks continued.

But those exemptions were lifted in early June, prompting a raft of retaliatory tariffs by the EU, and Trump is now considering whether to im pose hefty levies on European automobiles.

“President Juncker and President Trump will focus on improving transatlantic trade and forging a stronger economic partnership,” a European Commission statement said.

But Washington has shown no sign of compromise as it pursues its “America First” policies across a range of issues, even if it means alienating traditional allies.

Besides the tariffs, the US has threatened European companies with huge fines if they continue to operate in Iran, after Trump reimposed far-reaching sanctions while pulling out of the landmark 2015 deal on curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme.

 

EUs Juncker to meet Trump on tariffs standoff next week

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington next week in a bid to convince him to drop tariffs on metals and steer away from further duties on cars, reports AFP from Brussels. Juncker, who heads the powerful executive arm of the 28-nation European Union, will travel to the White House on July 25 against a backdrop of deepening transatlantic tensions. Trump imposed duties of 25 per cent on steel imports and 10 per cent on aluminium in March, but had given temporary exemptions to the EU and some other close trading partners as talks continued. But those exemptions were lifted in early June, prompting a raft of retaliatory tariffs by the EU, and Trump is now considering whether to im pose hefty levies on European automobiles. President Juncker and President Trump will focus on improving transatlantic trade and forging a stronger economic partnership, a European Commission statement said. But Washington has shown no sign of compromise as it pursues its America First policies across a range of issues, even if it means alienating traditional allies. Besides the tariffs, the US has threatened European companies with huge fines if they continue to operate in Iran, after Trump reimposed far-reaching sanctions while pulling out of the landmark 2015 deal on curbing Tehrans nuclear programme.