US and EU agree to work towards lower trade barriers

The US has agreed to work towards lowering trade barriers with the European Union, Donald Trump said on Wednesday after a meeting with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

The two would work for zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsidies on non-auto goods, he said.

They also agreed to increase trade in services and agriculture, including greater US soy bean exports to the EU.

The agreements come amid heightened tensions between the US and EU.

The two leaders defused what had threatened to become a trade war between the two blocs, fuelled by tariffs set by Mr Trump on European steel and aluminium exports, and threats to expand the tariffs to cars.

The relationship between the US and Europe had been further frayed by Mr Trump's apparent fondness for the Russian President Vladimir Putin and attacks on Nato and the EU.

Speaking from the Rose Garden at the White House, Mr Trump declared a "new phase in the relationship" between the two trading blocs, calling it a "very big day for free and fair trade".

"We are starting the negotiation right now but we know very much where it's going," he said.

Mr Juncker thanked the president and hailed a "good, constructive meeting".

The EU would increase purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, President Trump said, making them a "massive buyer".

He added that there would be an increase on trade in services and agriculture.

"The EU is going to start to buy a lot more soy beans - they are a tremendous market - buy a lot of soy beans from our farmers, primarily in the Midwest," Mr Trump said.

The pair also agreed to hold off imposing any further tariffs while negotiations take place, and to work towards reform of the World Trade Organisation.

Mr Juncker said striking a deal on zero tariffs on industrial goods was his "main intention". "I had one intention today, to make a deal, and we made a deal. We have a number of areas on which to work together," he said.

No announcement was made on auto tariffs, and it was not clear whether any progress had been made on resolving the issue. Mr Trump had threatened to impose 25% tariffs on European auto imports.

Mr Juncker said he and the president had agreed to reassess national security barriers in "due time".