ZCZC
BCN-14
US-EU-TRADE-DIPLOMACY-AUTO-JUNCKER
EU’s Juncker says ‘not very optimistic’ about Trump trade talks
BERLIN, July 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – European Commission chief Jean-Claude
Juncker dampened expectations ahead of talks Wednesday with US President
Donald Trump that they would resolve a bitter trade dispute between the two
giant economies.
“I am not very optimistic. I know Mr Trump pretty well. I have met him
frequently and know how to deal with him and know how he deals with others.
We will negotiate as equals,” Juncker told German public broadcaster ZDF.
Juncker said that the EU is “not in the dock — we don’t need to defend
ourselves.
“We are here to explain ourselves and explore ways to avoid a trade war,”
he said.
Juncker renewed his pledge of retaliatory measures should Trump make good
on his threat to slap new tariffs on EU car imports.
“We are ready to do that,” he said.
“We are in a position to respond appropriately right away.”
Brussels already retaliated against steel and aluminium tariffs levelled
last month, imposing punitive duties on over $3 billion (2.5 billion euros)
of US goods, including blue jeans, bourbon and motorcycles, as well as orange
juice, rice and corn.
Concerned about growing strain in transatlantic ties, German Foreign
Minister Heiko Maas wrote on Twitter that the United States was “not an enemy
but rather our most important partner outside the EU”.
“America is bigger than the White House. Trump won’t change that — he can
tweet as much as he likes.”
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1343 hrs