BRUSSELS ― European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss trade, as the U.S. president described the prospect of a deal with the EU as “50-50.”“Following a good call” with Trump, “we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong,” she said in a post on X on Friday.
Three weeks ago, the EU and U.S. almost agreed on a deal for a 10 percent baseline tariff, but Trump pulled the rug out from under it by threatening 30 percent tariffs instead. A deadline of July 9 for Trump’s tariffs to kick in was moved to Aug. 1.
“I would say that we have a 50-50 chance, maybe less than that, but a 50-50 chance of making a deal with the EU,” Trump told reporters at the White House before heading to the U.K. on a private visit and to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
EU diplomats briefed on the matter told POLITICO they are expecting a 15 percent deal before Trump’s Aug. 1 deadline.
If Trump blocks a deal now in the works, the EU is ready to retaliate, the diplomats told POLITICO. One measure would be to impose tariffs on €93 billion worth of U.S. goods, which EU countries approved on Thursday.
Trump announced tariffs on 60 trading partners in April, ranging up to 50 percent.
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