EU nations approve trade talks with US after Trump's threats

European Union governments agreed to the start of formal trade negotiations with the United States on Thursday, a move designed but not guaranteed to smooth strained relations between the world's two largest economies.

The European Commission, which coordinates trade policy for the 28 member European Union, had sought clearance for two negotiating mandates - one to cut tariffs on industrial goods, the other to make it easier for companies to show their products meet EU or U.S. standards.