Internet reports that European Central Bank chief economist Lien said that although most factors indicate that inflation in the euro zone will continue to fall, there are other factors that may push up inflation, including tensions between the EU and the United States and failed trade negotiations. When asked what this means for interest rate policy, Lane said: "We need to find a middle way." "If we see signs of further decline in inflation, we will respond with further interest rate cuts," he added. But the discussion wasn't that broad: No one was talking about a sharp rate cut. "We are in a normal central bank policy area."