Ahead of the US-China phase one trade deal signing ceremony, senior trade officials from the US are meeting with their counterparts from the EU and Japan to discuss the issue of China’s subsidies and non-market-oriented trade policies. The meetings were confirmed by an official spokesperson for the USTR office.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer met with his Japanese counterpart Hiroshi Kajiyama on Monday and is expected to meet with EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan later today. The focus stays on finding the best ways to dissipate trade tensions which have impacted economic growth not just in the US and China but also around the world over the past several months.

The EU and Japan have also previously raised concerns about how China offers subsidies for state-owned firm, restricts digital trade and fails to implement adequate cybersecurity measures within its markets. Trade tensions remain high between the US and other nations as well after the US imposed tariffs on several imports, especially from the EU and Japan as well.

While Japan has succeeded in finalizing an interim trade deal with the US, the trade conflict with the EU still continues over the issue of France’s digital services tax and the recent WTO ruling on EU’s aircraft subsidies to Airbus.