In July 2018, the European Union and the United States committed to work towards zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsidies on industrial goods other than automobiles. During the talks, both sides also agreed to work towards the following goals:
Seek lower barriers and increased trade in services, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and medical products
Increase U.S. exports of soybeans and liquified natural gas to the EU
Establish a dialogue on standards to ease trade, reduce bureaucratic obstacles, and lower costs
Reform the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Resolve the U.S. additional tariffs on steel and aluminum and the EU’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods
However, on August 30, 2018, Trump rejected the European Union offer to remove all tariffs on two-way trade in automobiles and other industrial goods, He stated that the offer was “not good enough” because “their consumer habits are to buy their cards, not to buy our cars”. Trump also threatened to pull the U.S. out of the WTO.
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