According to the Financial Times, according to the British Financial Times, the EU's chief negotiator said Brussels hopes to increase U.S. merchandise purchases by 50 billion euros to resolve "problems" in trade relations, adding that the EU is making "some progress" in reaching an agreement. However, EU Trade Commissioner Shevcovic said that the EU will not accept the continued imposition of 10% tariffs by the United States on its goods as a fair solution to trade negotiations. Shevcovic said that since the Trump administration implemented the tariffs, the United States and the European Union have made progress through multiple rounds of face-to-face and telephone negotiations. He added that "his goal" remains to reach a "balanced and fair" agreement with the White House. He said the issue could be resolved quickly as the two sides reach an agreement to buy more U.S. natural gas and agricultural products. But he warned that reaching an agreement that is "clearly good and acceptable for our member states and the European Parliament" would be "very difficult."