According to the New York Times, C. Boyden Gray, Washington’s special envoy on European affairs, said Thursday that the United States considered that a “fix will be in progress” as the two sides hold a meeting next week to discuss trans-Atlantic trade issues, citing assurances that he said were provided as long ago as last June by the European Union’s industry commissioner, Günther Verheugen.

“I have no reason to doubt what they say,” Mr. Gray said.

But the European Commission denied it had decided to propose lifting the ban. “No decision has been taken on these issues yet,” its spokeswoman for health issues, Nina Papadoulaki, said.