JULY 28 – Donald Trump has agreed a commerce take care of the EU Commission president after he performed a spherical of golf on the second full day of his go to to Scotland.
The US president shook fingers on the take care of Ursula von der Leyen at his luxurious Turnberry resort, saying: “It’s going to deliver us nearer collectively… it’s a partnership in a way.”
Von der Leyen additionally hailed it as a “enormous deal”, which got here after “robust negotiations”.
The settlement units the US tariffs on items from Europe at 15% throughout the board.
The European Union had been dealing with a 30% levy on its exports to the US from 1 August.
Before coming into the commerce talks, journalists had additionally requested Trump whether or not Israel needs to be doing extra to permit meals into Gaza, the place greater than 100 folks have died from malnutrition because the conflict started.
Trump didn’t reply the query straight, as an alternative saying the US had given $60m two weeks in the past for meals “and no person even acknowledged [it]”. “You ought to not less than say thanks,” he added.
Despite showery circumstances, the US president completed 18 holes on the resort earlier with company and household, together with his son Eric.
He was adopted by round two dozen buggies, lots of which carried bodyguards and different employees.
Trump mentioned he had loved the golf in “lovely Scotland”, however mentioned he was “not in a superb temper” as he sat subsequent to Von der Leyen.
He reiterated that there was a 50-50 likelihood {that a} commerce deal could be struck “in about an hour” between the US and the EU.
“This is the largest deal. People don’t realise. This is larger than different deal,” he mentioned.
“We have nice nations, nice nations, I’m accustomed to lots of them, so are you, and that is actually the largest deal.
Trump performs his second spherical of golf this weekend at Turnberry earlier than EU commerce deal talks later.
Von der Leyen met with First Minister John Swinney on Saturday and thanked him for a “heat welcome in Scotland” in a put up on Instagram.
Trump is anticipated to fulfill UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday and Swinney on Tuesday, and is because of open a second 18-hole course at his property in Aberdeenshire.
Earlier a small group of pro-Trump protesters gathered within the grounds of the resort with a placard which learn “President Trump don’t belief Starmer”.
As Trump handed by, they shouted “we love you Trump,” whereas the BBC’s Scotland editor James Cook requested the president if he had finalised a commerce take care of the European Union.
The resort is ringed by dozens of cops and a metal fence, as a part of a significant safety operation for the go to.
Minutes after arriving in Scotland on Friday, Trump talked concerning the potential for a commerce deal between the EU and United States, telling reporters there was a 50-50 likelihood of reaching an settlement.
Brussels, he claimed, needed to “make a deal very badly”.
Senior EU officers are additionally sounding optimistic concerning the prospect of creating not less than the framework of a pact.
If the talks collapse although the consequence might be a commerce conflict — with Trump threatening 30% tariffs on EU items — and the EU promising to reply in form.
The first two days of Trump’s go to have handed largely with out incident.
Several roads stay closed round Turnberry whereas police and navy personnel have been finishing up checks within the resort.
A safety checkpoint has been put in place outdoors the lodge and a big fence has been erected across the course.
Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters gathered in Aberdeen and Edinburgh to display their frustrations in the direction of the president’s politics – together with his views on local weather change and his place on the battle between Israel and Gaza.
Trump is anticipated to fulfill Starmer on Monday earlier than formally opening his new golf course at Menie in Aberdeenshire.
The US has a blanket 10% tariff on imports from nations around the globe.
In May, Starmer struck a take care of the president to cut back tariffs on some British items coming into the US and it’s anticipated their discussions will centre on this topic.
Meanwhile Swinney has mentioned a gathering with Trump would current a chance to “primarily communicate out for Scotland” on points akin to commerce and the rise of enterprise from the United States in Scotland.
The first minister mentioned he would additionally elevate “important worldwide points” together with “the awfulness of the state of affairs in Gaza”.
Trump will journey again to Washington on Tuesday and is because of return to the UK for an official state go to in September.
By BBC
