On July 25, 2018, President Trump and European Commission President Juncker issued a joint statement in Washington announcing the formation of an Executive Working Group that will seek to reduce transatlantic barriers to trade, including by working to eliminate non-auto industrial tariffs and non-tariff barriers. On October 16, 2018, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer officially notified Congress that the Trump Administration intended to start negotiations following the completion of necessary domestic procedures. This began a congressionally-mandated 90-day consultation period under Trade Promotion Authority prior to the launch of negotiations. Written public comments on the negotiating objectives for a trade agreement were due on December 10, 2018, and USTR will hold a public hearing on negotiating objectives for a U.S.-EU trade agreement on December 14.
Joint Statement of the United States and the European Union on a Tariff Agreement
United States-European Union Negotiations Summary of Specific Negotiating Objectives, January 2019
