The European Commission (EC) has asked leading EU companies and their executives to provide investment plans in the United States to gain an advantage in future tariff negotiations, Reuters reported, citing sources.
On May 26, the Confederation of European Business received a request from the EC for information on the strategy with a request to respond as soon as possible. The European Roundtable of Industrialists received a similar document. It is noted that the request to the organization included the provision of a five-year investment plan and was prepared by the head of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that he had agreed to postpone the introduction of 50% trade tariffs on imports from the European Union from June 1 to July 9 after a phone call with von der Leyen. The American leader added that the head of the European Commission had assured him that trade talks between Washington and Brussels would begin soon.