1. Acknowledgement that free, fair and mutually beneficial trade and investment, while creating reciprocal benefits are key engines for growth and job creation.
2. Underlining the crucial role of a rules-based international trading system and fight against protectionism.
3. Bilateral, regional and plurilateral agreements must be open, transparent, inclusive and WTO-consistent, and they should complement the multilateral trade agreements.
4. Commitment to modernize the WTO to make it more fair as soon as possible.

According to IMF data from 2016, the US and EU are each other’s top export market and second source of imports after China. Both the European Union and United States generally offer reciprocally open access to each other's exports. American exports to Europe are subject to duties averaging 3.0 percent close to the 2.4 percent average the United States imposes on European goods and services. According to the World Trade Organization, however, in 2016 the US imposed minimum import duties of 3.5 percent while the equivalent rate in the European Union was 5.2 percent.

Amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Europe over trade and foreign policy, President Trump has nominated Mr. Gordon D. Sondland to fill the long-vacant post of U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. The EU job has been vacant since Anthony L. Gardner resigned in January 2017.

The tariffs on steel and aluminum further undermine European confidence and trust in the United States, and reinforce already negative views about Donald Trump. The row over tariffs will make it considerably harder for Washington and European capitals to cooperate on other key issues or when new crises arises.  

The Trump tariffs undermine the international institutional order which the United States once helped create. Trump has decided to act alone and weaken the rules-based economic system that Washington should be revitalizing.