The United States and the EU announce an agreement to overcome the trade war

Presidents of the United States and the European Commission, Donald Trump and ] Jean Claude Juncker announced Wednesday (19659008) After a two-hour meeting at the White House, they announced to reporters a series of decisions covering the sectors (19659008) The United States and European Union ( EU) concluded an "agreement," said Juncker, while Trump said both parties want to establish "zero tariff" in bilateral trade, with the exception of automobiles.

According to a European source, a new tariff will be introduced by the United States on imported cars; a particularly sensitive issue for Germany where 800 000 people work in this industry

The EU will "immediately" increase its purchases of US soybeans, said Trump in exchange, promising to revise tariffs It imposes steel and aluminum imported from Europe

The US president declared at the White House after meeting with Juncker that relations with the EU were entering into a "new phase".

At the start of the press conference at the White House Oval Office, Juncker said that the US and the EU, representing half of world trade, are "partners" and "allies" and not "enemies".

Qualified by Trump's man "very intelligent",

WTO Reform

Trump also announced that the United States and the EU were working together to reform the Orga World Trade Organization (WTO) . In particular, he refers to China who accuses of violating intellectual property rights and forcing the transfer of technology.

"We will work with like-minded partners to reform the WTO and tackle the problem of unfair trade practices, including the theft of intellectual property, the forced transfer of technology, industrial subsidies and distortions. created by state-owned companies, "said Trump on the eve of his meeting with Mr. Juncker.

In order not to implement them, he proposed that all parties "eliminate all tariffs, non-tariff barriers and subsidies". "It will actually be free trade." I hope they are doing this, we are ready, but they will not do it. "

Lamenting that the countries affected by the tariffs" are flying to Washington to negotiate, "Trump argued that their tough strategy will bear fruit and that"

"I do not believe that tariffs are an adequate answer",

.

This strategy, however, is far from being unanimous in the republican field, traditionally favorable to free trade. Ryan was born in Wisconsin, in the state where he is based one of the most iconic companies in the country, the motorcycle manufacturer. Paul Ryan . Harley Davidson, who announced Tuesday (24) a sharp reduction in its profit margins until 2018 as a result of the trade war affecting its sales in the fastest growing EU market

(With AFP)