BRUSSELS – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai met today with European Commission Executive Vice President, Valdis Dombrovskis. This comes after a meeting between the two ministers on July 5, 2023 in Washington, D.C.
Today’s meeting largely focused on the negotiations related to the Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum. Ambassador Tai and Executive Vice President Dombrovskis had a direct and candid exchange about the work that must be completed in order to fulfill the previously agreed deadline of October 2023.
Ambassador Tai stressed the importance of both sides generating ambitious proposals in order to address shared concerns on carbon intensity and non-market excess capacity in the steel and aluminum industries. Recognizing the challenge this initiative poses to both sides, she noted the need to work at the deep level of trust, commitment and confidence that characterizes the best of the partnership between the United States and European Union.
Ambassador Tai underscored that, with the October deadline approaching, the United States and European Union need to deliver a high-standard agreement worthy of the two years that both sides will have spent in negotiations.
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