U.S. Downplays Prospect of 2020 Trade Deals With U.K., EU (1)

America’s top trade negotiator downplayed expectations for new agreements this year with the U.K. and European Union, reiterating that tariffs remain a potent weapon that President Donald Trump won’t hesitate to deploy in order to force concessions from Brussels and London.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, during testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, said the U.S. and EU have made “very little” headway this year toward completing a transatlantic trade agreement and a deal is “not looking good in the short term.”

Robert Lighthizer

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Agriculture remains a key sticking point in the talks, he said, accusing ...