US president says seeking 'fair trade deal' with EU

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump struck a note of optimism Wednesday as he prepared to meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker that is expected to focus on the growing trade war between the economic giants.

“We want to have a fair trade deal and we’re looking to have a fair trade deal, and hopefully we can work something out," Trump told reporters ahead of the meeting with the EU chief.

Juncker has publicly lashed out at Trump's initial wave of steel and aluminum levies, calling them "stupid", with the EU retaliating with penalties of its own on a host of American goods.

But prior to meeting with Trump, Juncker was decidedly more upbeat, saying Washington and Brussels "have to talk each to another, not at another.

“We are close partners, allies, not enemies. We have to work together,” he said.

"We should focus on reducing tariffs, not on increasing them," Juncker added.

EU-U.S. trade makes up one of the largest economic partnerships in the world, being tallied at roughly 1 trillion dollars including goods and services.

Trump has threatened to impose a new wave of 20 percent tariffs focusing on European automobiles, a move that would almost certainly be met with further escalation from Europe.

Trump and Juncker talked about the need to reduce tariffs, with the American president saying he would ideally prefer the elimination of all trade barriers between the U.S. and EU.

“If we could have no tariffs, and no barriers and no subsidies the United States would be extremely pleased,” he said. “We’re working on that and I think we’re making tremendous strides.”