EU/TARIFFS/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Europe’s fragile peace deal with the U.S. on trade is at a breaking point. Washington is again threatening high tariffs on Europe’s all-important car industry just as U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to whip up support before midterm elections on Nov. 6. In an unusually outspoken attack, two top U.S. officials on Wednesday [10-17-18] made clear that Trump was growing frustrated with Europe’s foot-dragging over a promised trade deal and was gearing up to roll out car tariffs put on ice in July. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who was in Brussels on Tuesday [10-16-18] and Wednesday, was visibly annoyed by the lack of progress in talks and lashed out at the explanation given by European Union trade chief Cecilia Malmström. The latest back-and-forth comes just a day after the Trump administration formally notified Congress that it was planning to begin trade negotiations with the EU. But the openly hostile remarks from Ross and U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland are a sign that a trade truce secured by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on a visit to the White House in July is now faltering.”
–Jakob Hanke, Christian Oliver and Megan Cassella, “Juncker and Trump’s transatlantic trade truce falters,” Politico, October 17, 2018 5:22 pm