EU Trade Commissioner: US-EU Trade Negotiations Make Progress
The United States and the European Union held trade negotiations on June 4 (Wednesday) in Paris, France. After the meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Sefcovic and U.S. Trade Representative Greer, it was stated that the negotiations were "proceeding rapidly and in the right direction." Technical-level consultations are still ongoing in Washington, and higher-level contacts will also be conducted in the future.
Reuters reported that Sefcovic said he and Greer agreed to adjust the negotiation focus, adding that the discussions were "very specific," which made him optimistic. He emphasized that the EU is prepared to defend its own interests and strive to rebalance transatlantic trade relations.
However, U.S. President Trump officially raised the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% on the same day, causing market volatility. Sefcovic expressed "deep regret" over this move, believing that increasing tariffs does not help address the common challenge of excess steel production capacity between both sides and is not conducive to the negotiation atmosphere.
Trump has long used tariffs as a core policy to address the U.S. trade deficit, but this approach has also sparked widespread concerns about global supply chains. Currently, the U.S. requires trade partners, including the EU, to submit their "best proposals" by July to avoid further retaliatory tariffs. So far, only the UK has reached an initial agreement with the U.S.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834039766623369/
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