US-Europe Trade Discussions on Tap

European Commission trade officials are slated to meet today in Washington with their U.S. counterparts to follow up on an agreement made July 25 between commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and President Donald Trump. Europe pledged to import more LNG in a bid to diversify imports, while the U.S. seeks new markets for its expanding production of the fuel.The confab in the coming weeks will be focused on getting rid of tariffs on industrial goods. The targeted goods will not include automobiles and agricultural products, according to the European Commission.The working group is charged with implementing the July 25 EU-U.S. joint statement, which called for “zero non-tariff barriers, ” in addition to zero tariffs and zero subsidies on non-auto industrial goods. The sides are exploring a limited trade deal that would not be as comprehensive as the shelved Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.