An informal lunch with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is the main topic when EU countries hold a trade ministers' meeting on Monday.
"I have already had productive talks with Lutnick yesterday and Greer today. But we also know that much work remains, especially on steel . . where we hope to both reduce tariffs and address global overcapacity," said EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on his way into the meeting.
EU countries have prepared a list of various goods that they want the US to exempt from high import tariffs, reports news site Politico Europe, among others. This includes everything from pasta and alcohol to hats, sunglasses and industrial robots.
However, no quick solutions for steel, for example, are expected.
Today is not about negotiations but more about a situation update, says Sefcovic.
He also promises briefings on the status of other discussions, such as a trade agreement between the EU and India.
We are planning another round of negotiations around Christmas. We have never come this far before – but the last mile is always the hardest, says the Trade Commissioner in Brussels.
