EU in talks with U.S. over embassy 'downgrade' by Trump administration
Updated 21:37, 11-Jan-2019
CGTN
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The European Union (EU) said on Tuesday it is in talks with U.S. officials regarding President Donald Trump's administration reportedly "downgrading" the bloc's embassy in Washington, in the latest blow to transatlantic relations.
The U.S. State Department lowered the EU mission's diplomatic status from member state to international organization late last year, according to a report by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
"We understand that there was a recent change in the way the diplomatic precedence list is implemented by the United States' Protocol," Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for the European Commission's diplomatic service, noted.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he arrives at the White House in Washington, DC, after meetings at Camp David, January 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he arrives at the White House in Washington, DC, after meetings at Camp David, January 6, 2019. /VCG Photo

"We are discussing with the relevant services in the administration possible implications for the EU Delegation in Washington."
The spokeswoman confirmed the EU was not notified of the change and said the bloc expected "the diplomatic practice established some years ago to be observed".
The "downgrade" issue came at a sensitive moment for EU-U.S. relations, with the bloc's top trade negotiator Cecilia Malmstrom on her way to Washington to try to breathe life into efforts to strike a trade deal and calm raging commercial tensions.
Officials in Brussels hope Malmstrom's talks with United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will persuade Trump away from slapping 25 percent tariffs on European car imports, that would mostly affect Germany and possibly spark a trade war.
Under Trump, Europe's once-solid relationship with the U.S. has deteriorated and last year Washington put tariffs on steel and aluminum from the EU and other partners.
And last month U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used a major policy speech in Brussels to take aim at the bloc, saying Britain's Brexit vote had raised valid questions about whether the EU was putting the interests of bureaucrats ahead of those of citizens.
(With inputs from AFP)