US has threatened potential 17% tariff on EU food exports, says EU diplomat

BRUSSELS, July 4 (Reuters) - The United States has threatened to impose a potential 17% tariff on agriculture and food exports from the European Union, an EU diplomat said on Friday.

Negotiators from the European Commission are in talks with U.S. counterparts in a bid to secure relief from U.S. tariffs and avoid any further hikes.

The Commission briefed EU envoys and said the United States had floated a possible U.S. levy on EU food, the EU diplomat said.