One of the European Union’s most senior officials embarked on a previously undisclosed trip to meet U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle last week, in a last-ditch effort to de-escalate tension and avoid a full-blown trade war, three senior EU diplomats told POLITICO.
Bjoern Seibert, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s head of cabinet, held talks in Washington before the U.S. imposed across-the-board tariffs on steel and aluminum, said the diplomats, who were granted anonymity to reveal details of the sensitive visit.
Brussels has started working on presenting a package of trade options to the Trump administration, which is likely to include an offer to purchase more American natural gas.
The European Commission’s chief spokesperson, Paula Pinho, confirmed the meetings took place “as part of the ongoing contacts with the new U.S. administration” and met with members of both the National Security Council and the National Economic Council.
Seibert did not immediately respond to a request for comment from POLITICO. Outreach from Seibert came amid preparations for U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to sit down with von der Leyen on Tuesday this week in Paris.
According to a Commission readout from the closed-door meeting between Vance and von der Leyen, she “reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to a fair trade relationship, while both parties expressed their intention to prioritize economic areas of mutual interest, including energy.”
Following the announcement of the tariffs, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU called a virtual meeting of the bloc’s 27 trade ministers to agree a strategy which is expected to include sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs that could disrupt the $1.3 trillion transatlantic trade relationship.
The EU’s diplomatic contacts with the Trump administration have been hindered by uncertainty over who has a genuine mandate to negotiate on behalf of the Oval Office, and the slow pace of appointments to key teams in Washington responsible for maintaining relations with Europe.
Earlier this week, Brussels’ Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič spoke with Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, designated U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council.
This story has been updated.
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