ZCZC
BCN-05
US-EU-TRADE-AGRICULTURE
Mnuchin insists agriculture was part of US-EU trade talks
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The US treasury secretary insisted
Sunday that agricultural issues were discussed in President Donald Trump’s
talks last week with Jean-Claude Juncker, contradicting the EU Commission
president’s account of the negotiations.
“I was in the room and we had specific conversations about agriculture and
the need to break down the barriers on agriculture and have more
opportunities for our farmers,” Mnuchin said on Fox News Sunday.
Trump had boasted on Thursday before an audience of farmers that “We just
opened up Europe for you farmers.”
US farmers have been hard hit by China’s retaliatory tariffs on US
imports, particularly soybeans, so it was important to Trump to shore up
support in Republican-leaning farm states.
On Wednesday he moved to ease tensions with the European Union, declaring
a truce on that front after meeting with Juncker.
Washington hopes that agreement will open another market for US
agricultural exports. But on Friday, Juncker responded through his
spokeswoman that agriculture was “not part of it.”
“When you read the joint statement … you will see no mention of
agriculture as such, you will see a mention of farmers and a mention of
soybeans, which are part of the discussions and we will follow up that,” EU
Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said.
Asked about the discrepancy, Mnuchin insisted: “We specifically talked
about soybeans, but we specifically agreed we would look at these other
markets and it was very clear that our objective as part of this whole
agreement is the Europeans have to open up more opportunities for our farmers
and our agriculture.”
Under the agreement, the US is lifting its threat to impose tariffs on
European autos as long as negotiations are underway in return for Juncker’s
promise that Europe would import more US soybeans and natural gas.
BSS/AFP/HR/0935