Trump to hold trade talks with European Commission president as his Scotland visit continues
The US President arrived on Friday night and was then seen playing golf at his Trump Turnberry resort the following day.
On Sunday he will meet European Commission Ursula von der Leyen for talks on the trading relationship between Europe and the US.
It comes as both sides seek an agreement on tariff rates now that the White House's deadline to impose stiff tariff rates is looming.
Leaving the White House on Friday, Trump said 'we have a 50-50 chance, maybe less than that, but a 50-50 chance of making a deal with the EU.'
He said the deal would have to 'buy down' the currently scheduled tariff rate of 30% on the bloc of 27 member states.
Later, von der Leyen posted on X that, 'Following a good call' with Trump, the pair had 'agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong.'
The US and EU seemed close to reaching a deal earlier this month, but Trump instead threatened a 30% tariff rate on the bloc of nations.
However, Trump's original deadline for beginning such tariffs has already passed, and is now delayed until at least Friday.
Without an EU deal, the bloc said it was prepared to retaliate with tariffs on hundreds of American products, ranging from beef and auto parts to beer and Boeing airplanes.
The talks come ahead of discussions with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday, which are also expected to focus on the issue of trade.
The UK and the US struck a trade deal recently, with discussions between the two men expected to focus on this – with reports suggesting Starmer will be looking for the US to cut the tariffs for British steel.
Trump is also due to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Swinney said it was his responsibility to 'raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza' with the President.
Saying he wanted to 'ensure Scotland's voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world', Swinney added: 'That is exactly what I will do when I meet with President Trump during his time in Scotland.'
On Tuesday, he'll be in Aberdeen, in northeast Scotland, where his family has another golf course and is opening a third next month.
Trump and his son Eric are planning to help cut the ribbon on the new course, where public tee times starting in August are already on offer.
On Saturday he was spotted playing a round at the famous Turnberry course, which he purchased back in 2014.
A massive security operation was in place as the president played golf on the course.
He drove his own golf buggy, but a heavy security presence saw Trump flanked by a fleet of similar vehicles.
Even before he took to the course, police officers and military personnel could be seen searching the area around the Trump Turnberry resort – which has had a metal fence erected around it as part of heightened security measures.
No protesters were seen while he was golfing on Saturday – but hundreds of people gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen for demonstrations against his visit organised by the Stop Trump Coalition.
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The Guardian
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