There’s no word on whether Brussels, Tokyo will be granted exemptions
Trade representatives for Japan and the European Union met with the U. S. trade representative Saturday in an effort to avoid a trade war over President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on aluminum and steel.
At the meeting in Brussels, U. S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and Japanese counterpart Hiroshige Seko discussed the tariffs as part of a trilateral effort to combat unfair trade practices.
The EU said in a statement that both Brussels and Tokyo had serious concerns about the U. S. tariffs. Both powers, two of the biggest trade partners with the United States, have asked for exemptions from the tariffs.
After the meeting, Malmstrom tweeted, « No immediate clarity on the exact U. S. procedure for exemption… so discussions will continue next week. »
Seko said at a news conference following the meeting, « I firmly and clearly expressed my view that this is regrettable….
