European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic expressed optimism that Washington and the EU were approaching a positive outcome for both sides. He warned, however, that a 30% tariff would practically eliminate trade between the U.S. and the 27-nation bloc, which are currently each other's largest trading partners.

The country’s new president, in office for a little over a month, had just dispatched his senior deputies to Washington to try to work out a trade deal.