The United States has raised concerns with the European Union about reigniting a World Trade Organization dispute related to a steel and aluminum disagreement from the Trump era. This cautionary stance, as reported by Bloomberg News, has hinted at potential repercussions on collaborative efforts in multilateral trade. Insights were shared by sources familiar with the discussions.

In a recent Group of Seven meeting, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai reportedly conveyed that a fresh EU challenge could impede ongoing endeavors to reform the WTO’s dispute resolution mechanism. Notably, Europe’s endeavor to restore the WTO’s appellate body, currently in a state of limbo due to U.S. actions, might face setbacks.

The remarks from Tai might instill doubts among European stakeholders regarding the trajectory of trade relations under President Joe Biden’s administration. While the Biden government has not rescinded certain tariffs initiated by his predecessor on European goods, aspirations for a renewed trade camaraderie appear to have hit a snag.

When approached for comments on the matter, the USTR and the European Commission opted not to provide statements, as per Bloomberg News.