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Monday 12 March 2018

Steel standoff: EU, Japan press ally US for tariff exemption

By DANIELA BERRETTA ter trade with the U.S. Cur-
ANGELA CHARLTON rently have a massive $100
Associated Press Billion Trade Deficit. Not fair
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Eu- or sustainable. It will all work
ropean Union and Japan out!”
pressed U.S. President Don- Trump is opening up one-
ald Trump’s trade envoy on-one trade talks with
Saturday to exempt them, countries on the new tariffs,
as longtime U.S. allies, from to see if he can win con-
upcoming steel tariffs that cessions for the U.S.
have sparked fears of a Trump insisted in a phone
new trade war. call with French President
But they appeared to win Emmanuel Macron — a
no quick concessions. leading EU player staunch-
EU Trade Commissioner Ce- ly opposed to the tariffs —
cilia Malmstroem said after that the “decision is nec-
meetings in Brussels that she essary and appropriate to
got “no immediate clarity protect national security.”
on the exact US procedure The White House said in a
for exemption,” and that statement Saturday that
new talks are planned next “both presidents discussed
week. alternative ways to address
The tariffs come into force United States concerns,”
in two weeks, and if the without elaborating.
28-nation EU cannot secure European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstroem, center, Japanese Minister for Economy, Trump later tweeted: “The
an exemption, it has threat- Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, right, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, pose for European Union, wonder-
photographers prior to a meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels on Saturday, March 10, 2018. The
ened retaliatory tariffs on EU is still seeking clarity from Washington about whether the 28-nation bloc will be exempt from ful countries who treat the
U.S. products like peanut U.S. President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs. U.S. very badly on trade,
butter and orange juice. (Stephanie Lecocq, Pool Photo via AP) are complaining about the
Japan has warned of the ert Lighthizer about the Trade and Industry of Ja- Lighthizer didn’t comment tariffs on Steel & Aluminum.
dangers of tit-for-tat mea- steel tariffs, insisting that pan Hiroshige Seko, and all publicly after the meetings. If they drop their horrific
sures. “the European Union must three pledged in a state- Trump tweeted that he barriers & tariffs on U.S.
Malmstroem said in a be excluded” because it is ment afterward to work spoke with Japanese Prime products going in, we will
statement that she had a a close U.S. ally. together to fight dumping Minister Shinzo Abe, saying likewise drop ours. Big Defi-
“frank” discussion with U.S. The two also met with Ja- that hurts jobs and indus- they are “discussing open- cit. If not, we Tax Cars etc.
Trade Representative Rob- pan’s Minister of Economy, tries around the world. ing up Japan to much bet- FAIR!”q

US officials:

No more conditions imposed on North Korea for talks

By MARK SHERMAN that President Donald Treasury Secretary Steven and pushed by the United agreeing to meet with Kim,
ROBERT BURNS Trump has agreed to meet Mnuchin said the sum- States, with helping bring before negotiators for both
Associated Press the North’s Kim Jong Un by mit would give Trump a Kim to the brink of negotia- countries had a chance to
Trump administration of- May. chance “to sit down and tions. set some goals the leaders
ficials said Sunday there “This potential meeting see if he can cut a deal” “Our policy is pressure, is could agree to.
will be no more conditions has been agreed to, there with Kim over the North’s pressure from our partners “But the important thing is
imposed on North Korea are no additional condi- nuclear program. “The and allies around the world, the diplomatic work that
before a first-ever meeting tions being stipulated, but, president has been very pressure to the United Na- has to go in before such
of the two nation’s leaders again they — they cannot clear in what the objective tions, pressure through a meeting. A meeting like
beyond the North’s prom- engage in missile testing, is here. And that is to get China, these have had an that would be kind of an af-
ise not to resume nuclear they cannot engage in rid of nuclear weapons on impact. It’s impacted Kim terthought after things are
testing and missile flights or nuclear testing and they the (Korean) peninsula,” Jong Un’s behavior. It’s im- negotiated. Here it looks as
publicly criticize U.S.-South can’t publicly object to the Mnuchin said. pacted his conduct,” Shah if, you know, that’s kind of
Korean military exercises. U.S.-South Korea planned The administration officials said. the opening gambit. And
The officials’ comments military exercises,” deputy credited toughened eco- But some members of Con- that’s a little worrisome,”
followed the surprise an- White House spokesman nomic sanctions imposed gress said they worry that said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.,
nouncement last week Raj Shah said. by the United Nations, Trump acted impulsively in a frequent Trump critic. q