Hogan, who was promoted from the role of EU farm chief in
November, has made resetting strained EU-U.S. economic relations
a top priority.
European officials have raised the possibility of negotiating a
"mini deal" with the United States, which has threatened to
impose car tariffs on the European Union if no trade accord is
struck.
"We are taking slow and small steps toward a 'mini deal'. I will
be in Washington DC next week and I hope we will make further
progress then," Hogan said, according to the text of a speech
due to be delivered at a conference in Dublin.
"There is currently momentum for both sides to examine a
possible new understanding on trade issues."
Hogan will travel to Washington to give a speech at Georgetown
University on March 17 on his ideas for reform of the World
Trade Organization. Officials have not announced whether he will
meet the U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, during
the trip.
On Friday, the Irishman said the Geneva-based trade body needed
a "profound overhaul" and "not just tweaking at the margins".
"I am hopeful that this speech can act as a catalyst for further
action and global collaboration, particularly across the
Atlantic."
The EU, China and 15 other WTO members agreed in January to
create a temporary mechanism to settle trade disputes after U.S.
moves to block the appointment of trade judges left the WTO with
no mechanism to act as the umpire of global trade.
"We agree with many of the U.S. criticisms of the WTO, now we
need to find common ground on the solutions," Hogan said.
Hogan will also travel to Canada on May 18 for a meeting of the
"Ottawa Group" of 13 WTO members, including Australia, Brazil
and Japan, that are seeking to craft consensus on WTO reform.
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Additional reporting by Philip
Blenkinsop in Brussels; Editing by Peter Graff)
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