Trade War Machinations EU trade negotiator Maros Sefcovic left Washington saying the Trump Administration’s trade policy goals were unclear. Yet, the EU rejected Washington’s offer to drop tariffs if Brussels reduces trade ties with China and removes food safety barriers to American food exports (see below). However, by the time Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ends her meetings in Washington tomorrow, it will be quite clear that President Trump’s goal is a pincher of countries that isolate China.  Europe says it wants to diversify its trade partnerships but there aren’t enough places elsewhere to send the €500 billion in goods it currently ships to the U.S. each year. Worse, China will now redirect th...