Bjoern Seibert visited Washington ahead of high-level contacts between the Commission president and J.D. Vance.
One of the European Union’s most senior officials embarked on a previously undisclosed trip to meet U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle in recent weeks, in a last-ditch effort to de-escalate tension and avoid a full-blown trade war, three senior EU diplomats told POLITICO.
Bjoern Seibert, who serves as the head of cabinet to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, held talks with Trump’s inner circle in Washington, said the diplomats, who were granted anonymity to reveal details of the sensitive visit.
After the U.S. imposed across-the-board tariffs on steel and aluminum earlier this month, Brussels started working on presenting a package of trade options to the Trump administration, which is likely to include an offer to purchase more American natural gas. It’s unclear if the talks took place before Trump’s announcement.
Seibert did not immediately respond to a request for comment from POLITICO, and the Commission has not confirmed details of the visit. Outreach from Seibert came amid preparations for U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to sit down with von der Leyen on Tuesday this week in Paris.
According to a Commission readout from the closed-door meeting between Vance and von der Leyen, she « reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to a fair trade relationship, while both parties expressed their intention to prioritize economic areas of mutual interest, including energy. »
Following the announcement of the tariffs, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU called a virtual meeting of the bloc’s 27 trade ministers to agree a strategy which is expected to include sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs that could disrupt the $1.3 trillion transatlantic trade relationship.
The EU’s diplomatic contacts with the Trump administration have been hindered by uncertainty over who has a genuine mandate to negotiate on behalf of the Oval Office, and the slow pace of appointments to key teams in Washington responsible for maintaining relations with Europe.
Earlier this week, Brussels’ Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič spoke with Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, designated U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council.
