Czech foreign minister hopes new Biden administration will improve US-EU trade relations

Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček has said Monday's vote by European Union leaders on the introduction of new tariffs on imports of goods from the United States should be postponed, taking into account the results of the US presidential election. In a debate on Czech television on Sunday Mr. Petříček said he thought the decision should be shelved until the beginning of next year, when the new American administration would be in office.

According to the Czech foreign minister the new Biden administration could contribute to the improvement of trade relations between Europe and the USA and open the way to a new trade agreement, as well an enable the long called for reform of  the World Trade Organization. According to Petříček, American foreign policy cannot be expected to change fundamentally under Biden's leadership, however, he thinks that protectionism will carry less weight than under Donald Trump’s presidency.

Czech leaders congratulating the new US president-elect expressed similar hopes that the Biden administration will improve EU-US relations and provide a new impetus for cooperation.

“Just as Europe needs the United States, the United States needs Europe, and it is my hope that the Biden administration will favour cooperation and trade rather than protectionism and restrictions” Czech President Miloš Zeman said in a letter of congratulations to Joe Biden.

He said Czech-US relations were excellent, but there was always room for improvement, and the Czech Republic was ready to actively contribute to it.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš likewise congratulated the new US president-elect, expressing the hope that the Biden administration would strengthen Transatlantic ties, respect the country’s commitments to NATO and work for a trade agreement with the EU.