It wasn’t immediately clear if the EU would be able to secure tariff reductions for particular industries, such as automotive or steel, a key demand from member states including Germany. The EU currently faces 25% tariffs in the automotive sector and 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Switzerland is exploring what concessions it can make to secure a deal with Washington on trade, but it must tread carefully to protect its interests with key trading partner, the European Union, politicians and people familiar with the matter said.

German automaker Mercedes-Benz Group AG, French luxury giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE and other major European firms are spearheading a corporate push that’s weakening the European Union’s efforts to stand up to Donald Trump’s tariff threats.