European lawmakers were in Washington last week in an attempt to reduce trade tensions with the United States.
EU Trade Committee Chair Bernd Lange says he sees a tariff threat on cars and Spanish olives as a trade irritants, which need to be resolved before progress on a deal can be made. Lange also added that the EU is skeptical of the United States as a whole when it comes to trade.
European lawmakers say a trade deal must have transparent benefits for both sides. According to Politico, they left Washington with little progress but a sense of “vague optimism.” The goal remains to reach a deal in 2020.