Trump will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer later on Friday.
The US president stated to reporters before leaving that he would talk with Starmer about and possibly “improve” the trade agreement between Washington and London.
Von der Leyen acknowledged earlier on Friday that Trump and her phone conversation were “good.”
In a social media post, she stated, “We have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations and how to maintain them.”
Trump imposed tariffs on imports from other countries shortly after taking office, and he encouraged nations to engage in bilateral trade negotiations with the US to prevent or lower any additional trade barriers.
In June, the UK and the US signed a trade agreement that made it easier for Americans to purchase goods there.
Additionally, the agreement established 10% tariffs on the first 100 000 UK vehicles that are exported to the US each year.
However, the US-EU trade war has gotten worse. Trump announced 30% tariffs on EU imports starting August 1 earlier this month.
Leaders in Europe have expressed their desire to reach a deal, as well as their own trade restrictions against the US.
Trump stated on Friday that there is a “50-50 chance, maybe less than that,” of reaching an agreement on trade with the EU.
He said, “They will have to buy down their tariffs,” according to the agreement.
Trump is scheduled to visit his golf courses in Aberdeen and Turnberry in Scotland, where he said he will host Starmer for dinner, aside from the economic negotiations.
As he travels around Scotland, the US president, whose mother was Scottish, is likely to face protests.
A group known as the Stop Trump Coalition has made plans for protests that it called a “festival of resistance” and that include environmental and antiwar advocates on Saturday.
Donald Trump may shake hands with our leaders, but he is not a Scottish friend, campaigner Alena Ivanova said in a statement.
The people of Scotland are aware of the harm that he has caused to democracy and the US workforce, to global efforts to address the climate crisis, and to the very foundations of humanity and justice.
Trump’s visit was described in a front-page headline as “Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland,” according to The National, a daily newspaper that supports Scottish independence.
Trump’s trip to Scotland comes as he is under increasing scrutiny at home for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a late sex offender.
In the UK, Starmer will meet Trump as a result of growing calls, including from his own Labour Party, for London to recognize a Palestinian state in the wake of Gaza’s Israeli-imposed starvation crisis.
Trump refrained from Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that Paris would grant Palestine’s statehood earlier on Friday.
Source: Aljazeera
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