Europe is concerned about the collateral damage that it may suffer from America's escalating trade spat with China, an EU official said, as he criticised Washington for breaking a years-long push to force Beijing to cut steel and aluminium exports.
The comments come after Washington imposed hefty tariffs on steel and aluminium imports in March, amid a worldwide glut of both metals that is largely blamed on excess production in China.
The administration has since granted temporary exemptions to some countries, as well as the European Union, but the bloc has demanded a permanent reprieve.
Concerns are also growing that the European market will be flooded with foreign steel, as major producers divert metal that was destined for the United States elsewhere.
Working Together
Speaking on the sidelines of a food trade show, Phil Hogan, the European Union agriculture commissioner, urged Washington to continue to work with the bloc to deal with prolonged trade issues with China.
For years, both regions have accused Chinese producers of dumping unwanted metal abroad, hurting international companies and adding to oversupply.
"I think the [US's] tactics [...] could unnecessarily escalate the trade dispute on steel and aluminium into other areas, which is a source of concern for the European Union," Hogan told Reuters.
Hogan outlined his concerns in a meeting with the US Undersecretary for Agriculture, Ted McKinney, this week in Shanghai, he told a media briefing, as the world's top two economies were set to hold a second round of high-level trade talks.
US President Donald Trump's top trade and economic officials are preparing to meet Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He in Washington to discuss concerns ranging from intellectual property protection to farm goods and steel capacity.
"We know that there's overcapacity, and we do have concerns about the Chinese dumping of these particular products, but there's a way of dealing with these issues," Hogan told Reuters.
Beef Access
In meetings with senior Chinese government officials this week, Hogan also urged Beijing to continue to give access to the EU region's beef, following its approval of Irish imports, and he sought clarification on the nation's proposed food safety certificates.
The European and US governments have worried that proposed rules requiring health certificates for all food imports, even if the products are deemed low risk, would hamper billions of dollars of trade with the world's second-largest economy.
The rules were due to take effect in October last year, but Beijing agreed to a two-year postponement, to allow companies more time to comply.
Among the Chinese officials whom Hogan met were Han Changfu, the minister for agriculture and rural affairs, and vice-premier Hu Chunhua.
Hogan, whose official title is European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, is leading a delegation of European food companies in China this week, as part of the trade show.
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
