EU sets out plans for 'limited' US trade deal

The EU on Friday published its negotiating plans for a free trade deal with the United States, part of an effort to avert a trade war with US President Donald Trump.

Negotiating a trade deal was included in a transatlantic truce secured last year after the US slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU, alarming the world.

The effort is also part of an effort to stop Trump from slapping tariffs on European car imports, a danger that has especially unnerved export powerhouse Germany.

"It is not a traditional (trade deal)... it is a limited but important proposal engaged on industrial goods tariffs only," EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told reporters.

The process however has got off to a rocky start, with the US side last week including agricultural products in their plans, which is an absolute no-go for the Europeans.

"In this mandate, we are not proposing any reduction of tariffs on agriculture. That area was left outside," Malmstrom insisted.

The 17-page ...