REUTERS/Shelley Christians/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The United States is optimistic it will conclude an agreement with the European Union to allow critical minerals mined or processed in Europe to qualify for U.S. clean vehicle tax breaks, a senior U.S. official said on Monday. The transatlantic partners are negotiating whether and how EU critical minerals, such as lithium and nickel, can qualify for green subsidies under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which promotes products manufactured in North America. He added there was no plan to tie an agreement on critical minerals to the result of separate transatlantic negotiations to resolve a bilateral dispute over U.S. import tariffs on EU steel. The United States signed a minerals deal with Japan in March. Fernandez also said he was meeting EU officials to discuss an agenda for the next joint Trade and Technology Council, which the United States will host before the end of the year.

---

Persons: Jose W, Fernandez, Shelley Christians, Jose Fernandez, Philip Blenkinsop, Mark Potter Organizations: United, State, Economic Growth, Energy, Mining, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, U.S, State Department, Japan, EU, Trade, Technology Council, Thomson Locations: United States, Cape Town , South Africa, Rights BRUSSELS, Europe, U.S, North America, Brussels, Britain