EU expects US steel tariffs to continue in 2019

The European Union sees little chance of an exemption from controversial US steel and aluminum tariffs until mid-2019, as it pushes for a narrow transatlantic deal to stave off any additional US tariffs on European cars, one bloc official said.

The Commission, the EU's executive arm in Brussels, is seeking an agreement with the Trump administration on several measures to stimulate trade, such as in the area of ​​industrial standards, the official said. This strategy is more modest than previous proposals, including for free trade agreements and industry deals.

The comments provide a glimpse into the EU's transatlantic trade strategy after President Jean-Claude Juncker and Trump struck a deal on July 25 that threatened an additional U.S. duty on European cars - the regular U.S. levy is 2.5 percent - and that forced the bloc to sigh with a relief. The export value of EU automotive products to the United States is about 10 times the value of steel and aluminum exports in the bloc.

The agreement a month and a half ago raised the prospect of a possible settlement of a dispute over US metal levies, prompting the EU to retaliate on duties on US goods. A joint statement at the time said: "We also want to resolve the issues of steel and aluminum tariffs and reciprocal tariffs."

Juncker and Trump decided at their July meeting in Washington to create a working group that had its political origins on September 10, when European and American trade leaders held talks in Brussels. In November, the parties will hold another meeting to "finalize the results."