US president says probabilities of reaching a commerce cope with the EU are ’50-50′ forward of his August 1 tariff deadline.
United States President Donald Trump has arrived in Scotland, the place he’s set to fulfill with European and British leaders for commerce negotiations and go to his golf programs.
Trump landed in the UK late on Friday, the place he’ll maintain talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen.
Earlier than departing from the White Home, the US president advised reporters that he would talk about the commerce deal between Washington and London with Starmer and “perhaps even enhance it”.
Von der Leyen mentioned earlier on Friday that she had a “good” name with Trump.
“We’ve agreed to fulfill in Scotland on Sunday to debate transatlantic commerce relations, and the way we are able to preserve them robust,” she mentioned in a social media submit.
Shortly after coming into workplace, Trump imposed tariffs on imports from internationally, and he invited nations to barter bilateral offers with the US to keep away from or reduce any additional commerce limitations.
The UK agreed to a commerce settlement with the US in June that expanded entry to American items within the British market.
The deal additionally set the tariffs on the primary 100,000 UK autos exported to the US yearly at 10 p.c.
However the US commerce struggle with the European Union has, against this, intensified. Earlier this month, Trump introduced 30 p.c tariffs on EU imports beginning on August 1.
European leaders have expressed willingness to barter a deal whereas additionally threatening to impose their very own commerce measures towards the US.
Trump mentioned on Friday that the prospects of securing a commerce cope with the EU are at a “50-50 probability, perhaps lower than that”.
“It’ll be a deal the place they’ve to purchase down their tariffs,” he mentioned.
Past financial negotiations, Trump is anticipated to go to his golf programs in Aberdeen and Turnberry in Scotland, the place he mentioned he’ll host Starmer for dinner.
The US president – whose mom was Scottish – is anticipated to face protests as he strikes round Scotland.
A bunch dubbed the Cease Trump Coalition has introduced plans on Saturday for protests that it described as a “competition of resistance”, that includes environmental and antiwar advocates.
“Donald Trump might shake fingers with our leaders, however he’s no buddy of Scotland,” Alena Ivanova, a campaigner with the group, mentioned in a press release.
“We, the folks of Scotland, see the injury he has finished – to democracy and dealing folks within the US, to the worldwide efforts to deal with the local weather disaster, to the very ideas of justice and humanity.”
The every day newspaper The Nationwide, which advocates for Scottish independence, described Trump’s go to in a front-page headline as: “Convicted US felon to reach in Scotland”.
Trump’s go to to Scotland comes as he faces mounting strain at residence over his ties to the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Within the UK, Starmer will meet Trump amid rising calls – together with from inside his personal Labour Get together – for London to recognise a Palestinian state amid the Israeli-imposed hunger disaster in Gaza.
Earlier on Friday, Trump dismissed an announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron that Paris will recognise Palestine’s statehood.
“Right here’s the excellent news: What he says doesn’t matter,” Trump advised reporters. “It’s not going to vary something.”
