Trump, von der Leyen hopeful of trade progress

TURNBERRY, Scotland — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he hoped to reach a trade agreement with the European Union but still rated the chances at 50-50.

Trump was speaking as he hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his Turnberry golf club in Scotland. “Both sides want to see fairness,” Trump said. “Hopefully, we will resolve a few issues.”

If a deal is done, Trump later said, that would be “the end of it” for a number of years.

Trump said any accord would not include pharmaceuticals. He ruled out the possibility that tariffs applicable to the EU would be below 15 percent. And he took aim at European cars, saying incorrectly that American auto makers were not allowed to sell into the EU market.

Sitting alongside Trump in the club ballroom, von der Leyen said she was “very much looking forward to the discussions we will have now.

“Our staff have done the heavy lifting, but it’s now on us,” she said. “If we are successful, I think it would be the biggest deal each of us has ever struck.”

She also rated the chances of a deal at 50-50.

The talks follow a two-week standoff triggered by Trump, who in a letter to von der Leyen threatened to jack up tariffs on most EU goods to 30 percent if no deal were done by Aug. 1.

In a first sign that a breakthrough had been in the offing, von der Leyen announced on Friday she would fly to meet Trump in Scotland, where the U.S. president was on a private visit.

Ursula von der Leyen also rated the chances of a deal at 50-50. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The two leaders then headed into a bilateral meeting. “We have a good chance of getting it resolved. We probably should know in about an hour,” said Trump.

Von der Leyen was due to brief the European press later but no further joint press appearance was planned for Sunday.

This story is being updated. Additional reporting by Jordyn Dahl and Doug Palmer.