Today Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, will meet Donald Trump, President of the United States, in Washington. Jean-Claude Juncker will be received at the White House at 13.30 (17.30 GMT) before delivering a speech at 16.00 (20.00 GMT). The two leaders will discuss the cooperation between the European Union and the United States government and institutions, including foreign and security policy, counterterrorism, energy security, and economic growth. This meeting will also be the occasion to discuss the EU/US trade relations and, according to Cecilia Malmström, “to de-escalate the situation”. In fact, after the American President threatened to put tariffs on aluminium and steel coming from the EU and declared the EU as America’s “foe” when it comes to trade, tensions increased between Washington and Brussels.
Consequently, the EU will not bring any trade offer to Washington as Commission Spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said “there are no offers. This is a discussion, it is a dialogue and it is an opportunity to talk and to stay engaged in dialogue.” Nevertheless, Juncker might try to persuade Trump that his threat to raise tariffs on European car imports would jeopardize a $1 trillion trade relationship and 15 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.
The last time Donald Trump met European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker he called the Luxembourger « a brutal killer« , let’s hope this time the American President will qualify Juncker in softer words.
Maurane Delpeuch
For further information:
La libre, 23/07/2018, http://www.lalibre.be/actu/international/quand-jean-claude-juncker-se-rend-a-la-maison-blanche-pour-empecher-une-guerre-commerciale-5b55c9d755326925484048ec
Delegation of the European Union to the United States website, 23/03/2018, https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/united-states-america/48746/president-juncker-set-meet-president-trump-july-25_en
The irish times, 24/07/2018, https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/what-is-at-stake-as-trump-meets-juncker-in-us-eu-trade-war-talks-1.3575002
