USTR: Europe's Going to Have to Give More Concessions on Ag

In a chat with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer agreed that it should not be the case that the European Union sells $10 billion to $12 billion more in food products to U.S. consumers than the U.S. sells in food and commodities to the region. “We have to get some more concessions from Europe,” he said. “Their prices are higher, they're less efficient, they don't use the science like we do, and we have a deficit with them? It's crazy.”

The way the U.S. uses science in its crops is one of the things the Europeans dislike about American products, as they are wary of genetically modified organisms. He suggested that it's wrong for European countries to sell cars “and things” in America, if they “won't accept our agriculture.”

Lighthizer said he thought his hand was strengthened because of what happened in trade talks with China and North America. “No one thinks we're bluffing,” he said. “When we go in there and say if you don't do this, we'll do that, it's never a bluff.” Lighthizer said little about future negotiations with the United Kingdom, India or other countries, except to say that he is talking to India and that the U.S. has to do a deal with the U.K.