U.S. - E.U. Trade Talks Languishing

You Auto Know 02/28/20

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer traveled to London this week for initial discussions with his British counterpart on a U.S.-U.K. trade deal.  The trip comes at a time when momentum for a deal between the U.S. and the European Union seems to be waning.  E.U. representatives had previously said that they hoped to secure a "mini" trade deal with the U.S. by March 18, believed to be an effort to stave off increased or new tariffs on European goods, including autos.

Underscoring the concern that U.S.-E.U. talks are not on a positive trajectory, a group of European lawmakers visited Washington this week in an effort to reset the relationship and de-escalate trade tensions. A delegation led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of 20 industry leaders will also head to Europe next week in hopes of giving the stalemated talks a "shot in the arm" and promoting expanded transatlantic trade.  

Last year, the Trump Administration agreed to put threatened E.U. auto tariffs on hold while the two sides negotiated ways to improve their trading relationship, however, not long ago the president reiterated the threat of auto tariffs against the E.U. if the talks do not come to a satisfactory conclusion. European officials have said they are willing to work with the U.S. administration to address some issues, but have also said they will retaliate against any move to tariff cars or other products.

 

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Quotes of the Week

"The industry has evolved, and we've evolved, but the mission hasn't changed. We were fighting tariffs 50 years ago, we're fighting auto tariffs today."

            -Cody Lusk, AIADA President & CEO (Automotive News)

"Now, more than ever, dealers need AIADA working the halls of Congress to protect our livelihoods from dangerous and damaging trade policies. If you thought the last three years were rough for global trade, you better buckle up for whatever follows November's election."

            -Jason Courter, AIADA Chairman (www.aiada.org)

"[Auto tariffs are a] tool in the administration's kit that they're not prepared to give up without some concessions on the part of the Europeans. The question is whether the Europeans are prepared to do enough to satisfy the administration, starting with the president of the United States."

            -Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President of International Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Inside U.S. Trade)

Must Read

AIADA Chairman Jason Courter's new blog, Courter's Two Cents kicks off the fight with his thoughts on what you can expect from the coming year under his leadership.

ICYMI

Be sure to check out the latest Beltway Talk podcast featuring a conversation with Anna Schneider, Senior Vice President, Industry-Government Relations at Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.   

Friday Funny

English Woman Wins Annual Pancake Race with Kansas

An Englishwoman barely squeaked out a victory over a competitor on this side of the pond in Kansas in Tuesday's annual pancake race between their British and American hometowns.

Katie Godor, from Olney, in Buckinghamshire, ran the 71st International Pancake Day race with a time of 1:06 seconds. That just beat the time of Whitney Hay, a student at Seward County Community College, who won the Liberal, Kansas, leg of the race in 1.09 seconds.

Women in the event must run a 415-yard race while carrying a pancake in a frying pan and flipping it at the beginning and end.

The race began in Olney in the 15th century. Liberal challenged Olney to an international competition in 1950.

The event expanded this year in Liberal to a four-day event, which includes pancake eating and flipping contests, a parade and a carnival.

(Associated Press

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