U.S., EU strike trade deal before climate summit

President Joe Biden announced Sunday that the United States will relax Trump-era steel and aluminum tariffs. The U.S. government will allow some European products to enter the country tariff-free. The agreement included a promise by the U.S. and EU to crack down on so-called “dirty steel,” much of which China exports.

What’s wrong with dirty steel? The production process for the material produces heavy carbon emissions. China also produces more steel than necessary and has been accused of flooding the international market with it. Biden said the deal would limit China’s access to the U.S. market, though it could join the trade deal if it agreed to abide by the terms. Biden is scheduled to attend a major UN climate conference this week in Glasgow, Scotland.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read Anne K. Walters’ report on tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on China.