President Donald Trump is set to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday in Scotland, pausing his golfing getaway to tackle looming trade tensions. With the White House’s deadline for imposing steep 30% tariffs on the European Union fast approaching, both sides are racing to hammer out a deal to avert a costly trade war.
Trump, fresh off a round at his Turnberry golf course on Saturday, is balancing leisure with high-stakes diplomacy during his five-day Scottish visit. He’s slated to visit Aberdeen on Tuesday, where he and his son Eric will inaugurate a new family-owned golf course, with public tee times opening August 13. But trade, not tees, is the focus of his meeting with von der Leyen, which will take place behind closed doors with scant details disclosed.
Departing Washington on Friday, Trump pegged the odds of an EU deal at “50-50, maybe less.” He stressed that any agreement must reduce the proposed 30% tariff rate on the 27-nation bloc. Von der Leyen, posting on X after a promising call with Trump, said the pair would discuss strengthening transatlantic trade ties. The EU had seemed close to a deal earlier this month, but Trump’s tariff threat and a now-delayed deadline—extended to at least Friday—have raised the stakes.
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Even while golfing, Trump remains focused on trade. After playing 18 holes at Turnberry, he took to Truth Social to address unrelated trade issues, vowing to block deals with Cambodia and Thailand amid their ongoing border conflicts. He revealed discussions with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, urging a ceasefire to foster “peace and prosperity.”
The EU deal’s outcome remains uncertain. Trump recently downplayed the chances of a Japan trade agreement at 25%, only for a deal to materialize days later. His strategy of wielding tariff threats to secure better terms with allies has yielded mixed results, increasing pressure to clinch a significant EU agreement. Failure could trigger EU retaliation, with tariffs targeting U.S. goods like beef, auto parts, beer, and Boeing planes, driving up costs for American consumers.
On Monday, Trump will meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland to discuss a recently announced trade framework, though the White House hints it needs refinement. As Trump navigates these critical talks, the world watches to see if he can turn tariff threats into trade triumphs—or if consumers will face the fallout of higher prices for European goods like French cheese, German electronics, and Italian leather.
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