The United States and European Union (EU) seem finally to be entering into serious negotiations on trade and the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. For months, each party has accused the other of being too vague in its proposals. This culminated on May 23 in US President Donald Trump’s threat to raise tariffs on the EU to 50 percent by June 1. Although he later paused that increase until July 9 to allow for negotiations, it’s not yet clear that those talks will succeed. Meanwhile, the EU has made clear that if the talks fail, then it is prepared to retaliate. Yet retaliation will only heighten tensions between Brussels and Washington, and it will not lead to a deal or serve longer-term EU interests. A deadline and no dealAlthough […]