EU Officials Say No U.S. Letter on Higher Tariffs Forthcoming

The European Union does not expect to receive a formal letter from the United States detailing plans for higher tariffs, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Reuters. EU officials said they had been told no communication outlining additional duties is forthcoming. The absence of such a notification eases immediate concerns of an escalation in trans-Atlantic trade tensions. Under World Trade Organization rules, advance written notice often precedes the imposition of new trade measures, so the lack of a letter suggests Washington is not poised to announce tariff increases against European goods in the near term.