US and EU Officials Talk Trade, Tariffs and Digital Policy in Brussels

President Donald Trump's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with EU officials in Brussels yesterday to discuss trade and digital policy among other things.

From the Right: The Epoch Times (Lean Right bias) reported that no deal is expected on US steel tariffs, with 50% of the tariffs remaining in place. In October the European Commission (EU) proposed cutting their tariff-free steel quota to 18.3 million metric tons annually, which was half the previous level. However, European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic said the EU and the US were "making progress" on energy security and other aspects of their trade agenda. The EU remains committed to purchasing $200 billion in US energy purchases and will increase US liquefied natural gas imports to 60% (up from 45%) of EU demand.

From the Center: BBC News (Center) also reported the EU does not expect any deal this week to ease US steel tariffs and that the US is pressing the EU to "reconsider" its digital regulations on big tech companies. The US contends that levies on revenue from digital or streaming advertising companies above a certain size unfairly target US firms. US firms are also unhappy with Europe's Digital Markets Act, which sets rules that would require companies like Apple to make their products work with devices such as headphones made by other brands. Meanwhile, the EU is hoping for relief on steel exports and wants to win carve-outs from tariffs for items such as pasta, cheese, and wine.

From the Left: An analysis from The New York Times (Lean Left) said both sides have different wish lists and that it has been almost four months since the EU and the US made a handshake deal to resolve trade tensions. While both the US and EU have agreed to a trade agreement in principle, key details remain to be completed and carried out. The EU has put forth legislation to cut tariffs on US industrial goods and some agricultural exports, but that deal still needs the approval of the European Parliament. US officials say the framework the parties agreed to in July would need to go "fully into effect" before the US would reduce its tariffs further.

For Context: Both the US and the EU have legitimate concerns that go beyond simple tariff cuts, and political pressures in Washington and Brussels will require any compromise to be acceptable to big tech, farmers, and other interest groups.

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