EU "Trade Relations Reset with the US Started Smoothly"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Phil Hogan, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Trade, the executive branch of the EU, stated on the 16th (local time) that the start of resetting trade relations between the EU and the United States is going smoothly.

According to foreign media on the 17th, Hogan, who visited Washington to ease tensions between the EU and the U.S., made the remarks after meetings from the 14th to the 16th with Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), other senior U.S. officials, lawmakers, and businesspeople.

He introduced that during this visit, the EU emphasized its hope to negotiate solutions to various disputes between the two sides and expressed a desire to avoid economically damaging and costly retaliatory tariffs.

However, he said, "It is a smooth start," adding, "but we have much more work to do."

The EU and the U.S. have experienced friction over various trade issues since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in 2017.

Last year, the Trump administration imposed tariffs of 25% and 10% respectively on foreign steel and aluminum products, including those from the EU, citing national security, and recently initiated procedures to impose retaliatory tariffs on France's 'digital tax.'

While the EU warned of an EU-level response to the U.S.'s moves to impose retaliatory tariffs, it has also publicly expressed its intention to newly establish trade relations between the two sides and has been seeking ways to ease tensions.