EU, US to keep talking about tariffs as war in Israel and Ukraine overshadow talks
By Andrea Shalal and Jeff Mason
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. and European Union negotiators failed to reach deals to settle longstanding trade disputes in time for a summit at the White House on Friday, but Washington said it would keep providing some relief from tariffs on steel and aluminum, and both sides said talks would continue.
Senior U.S. administration officials said they made significant progress on the trade issues but more work was needed to reach deals on energy subsides and the steel and aluminum market.
U.S. President Joe Biden hosted European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for a meeting dominated by discussions about the war between Israel and Hamas, and ensuring continued support for Ukraine in its now 600-plus day fight against Russia's invasion.
Biden noted at the start of the meeting that the EU and the U.S. were standing together to support Israel and Ukraine, but would also discuss ways to address «unfairly traded steel and aluminum imports» and talks about critical minerals.
«Sometimes we have our differences,» Michel said. «That’s why we are here: to cooperate, to find solutions that work for businesses and workers on both sides of the Atlantic.»
Trade negotiators had scrambled on Thursday to avoid the U.S. resuming import tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imposed by then-President Donald Trump in 2018 before November, ultimately agreeing to keep the tariffs at bay while they keep talking.
«We are committed to continuing the work on the Global Arrangement with the EU in the months ahead,» a senior U.S. administration official said about the talks, adding that the U.S. would roll over tariff rate quotes, or TRQs, by the end of the year if more time
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