Lagarde Tells Finance Chiefs to Let EU Take Lead on Trade Talks

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde told the region’s finance ministers to let Brussels take the lead on trade discussions with the US, according to people familiar with the matter.

ECB President Christine Lagarde

Photographer: Damian Lemanski/Bloomberg

Addressing a meeting in Warsaw on Friday, she reminded the group that the European Commission has exclusive competence for this area and ministers should hold back from commenting excessively on the matter, the people said, asking not to be identified because the talks are private.

European Union countries have been at pains to show a united front in the face of US President Donald Trump’s tariff broadsides. On ...