EU to end trade talks if US imposes car tariffs: Official

The European Union will end trade negotiations with the US if the latter imposes tariffs on car imports, European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Friday.

The European official made the remarks before the informal meeting of the trade ministers of the EU member states, which will discuss issues related to the mandate for trade negotiations with the US.

"We are in a very delicate situation," said Malmstrom, adding that the negotiations will cease if the US imposed tariffs on car imports. "This is clearly stated in our mandate," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

"Currently, the US is busy with trade negotiations with China, so we have not been able to talk," said the European official, adding that according to the White House communique, "while we negotiate, we should not impose any tariffs against each other".

EU trade ministers gathered on Thursday and Friday here to discuss the modernization process of the World Trade Organization and EU-US trade relations.

Declaring that no decision will be taken at the informal meeting in Bucharest, the EU Commissioner said that the decision would be taken "in a few weeks".

"I hope the ministers will feel ready soon enough to make a decision. We have not yet confirmed a date, but we have to start negotiating," said Malmstrom.

--IANS

soni/