PM concerned about U.S. tariffs' negative impact

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä voiced his concern over the trade situation between the European Union (EU) and the United States during his visit to the United States, Finnish media reported on Thursday.

Sipilä met U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in the last two days.

Talking to Finnish correspondents in Washington late Wednesday, Sipilä said his impression was that Washington is split in its approach to the trade issue.

"No one wants the present situation to continue, as it hampers the growth of world trade," Sipilä was quoted by Finnish media as saying.

Sipilä said he had explained the Finnish situation to Pence, citing the risks the Finnish automobile industry may face if the United States imposes more tariffs on auto exports from the EU.

"Many of the cars made in Finland get exported to the U.S. via Germany," he said.

The leading Finnish business think tank ETLA published a survey earlier this week, saying that if U.S. tariffs hit EU carmakers, the initial loss of jobs was estimated at 900 in Finland.

The ETLA said that though the impact is small, automobile production could ultimately be relocated to a country outside the EU.