EU's Malmstrom assumes US won't slap autos tariffs amid talks

The European Union’s (EU) Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, said late-Tuesday that she believes the US will not impose the auto tariffs on the EU while the trade talks go on between both the two sides.

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“We assume that if that (U.S. auto tariffs) were to happen, that would not be for the European Union.”

Malmstrom is due to meeting the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer later today to pursue more regulatory cooperation and discuss what future trade negotiations might cover.

“It would be limited, and let me state and be very clear, it will not include agriculture.” 

Would need a mandate from EU governments to launch formal negotiations with the United States, and many EU members, notably France, are opposed to including agriculture in the talks.