Japan, EU, Others Agree to Cooperate over Possible U.S. Auto Tariffs

Brussels, July 31 (Jiji Press)--Japan, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and South Korea agreed at a vice ministerial meeting Tuesday to cooperate in responding to the United States' plan to impose additional tariffs on automobile and auto parts imports. At the meeting in Geneva, the participants shared concern over such tariffs and agreed to exchange information among the five parties on respective negotiations with the United States. By the end of August, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to complete an ongoing investigation into whether the country should introduce the additional auto tariffs. The United States and the EU agreed to start new trade talks at a summit between Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Washington last week. Trump and Juncker confirmed that the two sides will put on hold any further tariffs while the bilateral trade talks are in progress. The EU is believed to have given explanations on the matter at the Tuesday meeting. The participants at the Geneva meeting also reached an agreement to cooperate over reforming the World Trade Organization. END