European Union and U.S. top trade officials will seek to further cement recent advances in settling some key differences that have soured transatlantic relations over the past few years.

Virtual meeting sets the stage for president’s visit to bloc next month

BRUSSELS—European Union and U.S. top trade officials on Thursday further cemented recent advances on some key differences that have soured transatlantic relations over the past few years.

EU trade ministers used a virtual meeting with U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai to highlight the breakthroughs in the long-standing dispute over airplane production subsidies and a fight over steel tariffs.

“We agreed that finding effective solutions together is essential to preserve our critical industries,” EU Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said.

“It is spring here in Brussels and there is a spirit of optimism,” German Trade Minster Peter Altmaier said. It stood in sharp contrast with the four years of divisive relations under former U.S. president Donald Trump.

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit the EU next month seeking to further increase co-operation on anything from battling the COVID-19 pandemic and confronting a surging China as a disruptive rival.

“I stressed the importance of sticking together regarding what happens in China,” Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sigrid Kaag said.

Even if Germany is the juggernaut of the EU’s economies, France is its strategic partner in dealing with Washington, and French Foreign Trade Minister Franck Riester equally lauded “the very positive signals coming from the United States.”

And the European Union has done its part too. Just on Monday, it hit the pause button and temporarily suspended some upcoming measures at the heart of a steel tariff dispute. With it, the bloc wouldn’t increase some tariffs targeting U.S products, including HarleyDavidson motorcycles.

And they agree to address together the global steel and aluminum excess capacity, where they see China as a common adversary.

It already followed the fourmonth suspension of tariffs used in the long-standing Airbus-Boeing dispute. Both sides now face a July 10 deadline to find a new breakthrough.

“Work is advancing,” Dombrovskis said.

FRANCISCO SECO AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai, on screen, addresses a European Foreign Trade ministers meeting at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on Thursday.