EU hopes to have negotiating mandate for U.S. talks by early 2019

摘要

European trade ministers are hoping to give the European Commission a mandate to negotiate a trade deal with the United States by early 2019, EU officials said last week. A mandate would follow the release of a report by the U.S.-EU Executive Working Group, expected by the end of the year. Following a meeting with the EU's trade ministers and EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom on Nov. 9, Austrian Economy Minister Margarete Schrambock said she hoped member states would be able to give the Commission a negotiating mandate in early 2019. Austria holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.