BERLIN (AP) – The U.S. and German finance chiefs say they’re ready to cooperate and avoid “trade wars,” playing down in their first meeting the tensions that have grown globally over commerce since the new U.S. administration came to power.
During a visit to Berlin before a wider meeting with the finance chiefs of the Group of 20 economic powers, Steve Mnuchin said Thursday that “it is not our desire to get into trade wars.”
But he said, without providing specifics, that President Donald Trump wants to review some international trade deals to make them fairer for American workers.
“Our objective is getting more balanced trade agreements,” he told reporters while sitting by Germany’s Wolfgang Schaeuble.
The German had earlier in the day warned against protectionism and nationalism and conceded that he and Mnuchin did not agree on all points.