US Trade Representative rejects Christian Lindner’s free trade plans

Dusseldorf, Berlin US Trade Representative Katherine Tai wants close coordination on trade issues with the EU, but rejects new talks on a free trade agreement. The spirit of the TTIP negotiations is now embodied in the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), she told the Handelsblatt. Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner proposed in March to resume negotiations.

Instead of a major trade agreement, Tai wants coordination between the American and European sides on many individual issues. From the point of view of the Europeans, this is currently lacking. The US recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act, with which the government is promoting investment in energy, health and climate.