The United States and the European Union have launched serious negotiations on the settlement of their trade disputes for some days, with the aim of preventing the worst scenarios of the new duties promoted by US President Donald Trump, according to a Financial Times report.

The two sides exchanged documents for the first time in the context of negotiations, which include issues to be discussed such as tariffs, digital trade and investment opportunities, according to four sources with knowledge of the issue, as well as with an EU informative note quoted by the newspaper.

The head of the European Commission’s Trade Division, Sampine Vayynd, warned the ambassadors of the Member States that the Union must maintain its temper and not succumb to Washington’s desire for “fast victories”. He pointed out, however, that US duties in some products are likely to remain, especially in areas where the US is seeking to rejuvenate their domestic production, such as steel industry and the automotive industry.

So far, the EU of 27 members, which Trump has accused of “exploiting” the US, had failed to make progress made by countries such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the United Kingdom.

Jameson Green, a Trump trade spokesman, helped accelerate the process when, in private talks with European diplomats, he warned that frustration between US officials was increasing because of the EU’s refusal to submit any written proposal.

Without an initial move from Brussels, he said the EU should expect the complete reinstatement of Trump duties on April 2. It is recalled that the “reciprocal” duty of 20% imposed by the US in the EU has been halved, ie 10%, by July 8 to allow negotiations. Trump has maintained additional 25% duties on steel, aluminum and cars and threatens young people in medicines, semiconductors, copper, timber, critical raw materials and aerospace accessories.

Maros Shefkovic, EU Commissioner for Commerce, had talks with Gree on Thursday and hoped to meet him next month on the sidelines of the OECD ministerial meeting to be held in Paris.

Sefkovic has told the FTs that he wants to reduce the US -EU trade deficit itself and in this context he is considering increasing the block imports of American gas, weapons and agricultural products. However, the US has repeatedly expressed concerns about other issues that they consider as tax barriers set by the EU, such as VAT, the regulatory framework for digital services, food standards and duties on some American products.

Daniel Malani, a former US leader in talks with the EU, said the United States would probably focus on forthcoming talks on medicinal products and the opening of the European market on US agricultural products.

EU Ministers, for their part, have made it clear that the recent US -known kingdom agreement, which provides for the maintenance of a 10%duty, is not a model for the Union.

Swedish Minister of Commerce, Benjamin Dusa, said that “we will not be satisfied with this kind of agreement” and the US must “expect countermeasures”. An EU official commented, in fact, “10% is not an agreement”.

The EU suspended the $ 21 billion countermeasures it had decided due to negotiations with Washington, but the Commission proposed a new 95 billion -euro package last week, including duties on Boeing aircraft, cars and Burbon.

Sefkovic has also stated that the EU will not accept US requirements to abolish VAT or relax the regulatory framework for digital services and taxation.

However, the Union appears willing to reduce its dependence on China to critical raw materials and drugs, and to impose duties on alleged Chinese exports.

Sabine Vayyad, who visited Washington in early May, said, according to an EU report, that the UK agreement shows that the US wants to use trade agreements to control supply chains and displace Chinese products.