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 instructed reporters that he would focus on the commerce deal between Washington and London with Starmer and “possibly even enhance it”.
Von der Leyen mentioned earlier on Friday that she had a “good” name with Trump.
“We now have agreed to fulfill in Scotland on Sunday to debate transatlantic commerce relations, and the way we are able to maintain them robust,” she mentioned in a social media post.
Shortly after coming into workplace, Trump imposed tariffs on imports from the world over, and he invited international locations to barter bilateral offers with the US to keep away from or reduce any additional commerce boundaries.
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 automobiles exported to the US yearly at 10 p.c.
However the US commerce conflict with the European Union has, against this, intensified. Earlier this month, Trump introduced 30 percent 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 in opposition to the US.
Trump mentioned on Friday that the prospects of securing a commerce cope with the EU are at a “50-50 likelihood, possibly 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 could shake arms with our leaders, however he’s no pal of Scotland,” Alena Ivanova, a campaigner with the group, mentioned in an announcement.
“We, the individuals of Scotland, see the harm he has performed – to democracy and dealing individuals within the US, to the worldwide efforts to deal with the local weather disaster, to the very ideas of justice and humanity.”
The each 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 stress at house over his ties to the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Within the UK, Starmer will meet Trump amid growing calls – together with from inside his personal Labour Social gathering – 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 instructed reporters. “It’s not going to alter something.”
