President Trump’s top economist Larry Kudlow held high-level talks Wednesday with German officials as part of a new economic dialogue that is intended to deepen ties between both countries.
“They had a good conversation and exchange today regarding a number of topics of mutual interest and shared economic and trade challenges. Both agreed to enhance economic growth and market access,” White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said in a statement, adding that future meetings will take place.
The meeting, which touched on trade in addition to other economic issues, comes less than two months after Trump struck a preliminary deal with the European Union to avoid a transatlantic trade war.
Officials within the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said Monday that the administration plans to seek swift congressional approval of the agreement in exchange for closely consulting on the final deal with committees in the House and Senate that work on trade.
Wednesday’s meeting at the White House involved Germany’s deputy minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy and its deputy finance minister.
Kudlow has been a staunch defender of the president’s trade policies since joining the administration, despite considering himself a free-trade advocate. The National Economic Council chairman has been a top adviser to Trump throughout trade negotiations with South Korea and Mexico as well.
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