European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Scotland on Saturday ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump scheduled for Sunday evening. Officials from both sides have indicated that a trade agreement is within reach.
During his visit to Scotland for a few days of golfing and bilateral discussions, Trump told reporters on Friday evening that he looked forward to meeting von der Leyen, describing her as a “highly respected leader.” He assessed the chances of reaching a framework trade deal between the US and the 27-member European Union as “50-50.” Trump added that Brussels was “very keen” to strike a deal.
If successful, Trump said the agreement would be the largest trade deal secured by his administration to date, surpassing the $550 billion accord recently reached with Japan.
Ahead of the summit, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick departed Washington for Scotland to engage in high-level talks with EU officials. A source from the administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed cautious optimism, saying, “We’re hopeful a deal will be reached, but nothing is final until it’s done.”
On Thursday, the European Commission stated that a negotiated trade solution with the US was “within sight,” even as EU members approved counter-tariffs on $109 billion (€93 billion) worth of American goods should talks fail.
Diplomatic sources suggest the agreement could include a general 15% tariff on EU goods entering the US, alongside a 50% tariff on European steel and aluminium. This rate would be half of the 30% tariffs Trump threatened to impose from 1 August.
To secure a deal, Trump has insisted the EU “buy down” the 30% tariff, although he provided no specifics. He told reporters there was “little wiggle room” on the 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, adding, “If I do it for one, I have to do it for all.”
It remains unclear whether Washington will exempt EU imports from other sectoral tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and other goods that have already been announced or are pending.
Combined, goods, services, and investment make the EU and the US each other’s largest trading partners by a significant margin. The American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels warned in March that any disruption could jeopardise $9.5 trillion worth of business within the world’s most vital commercial relationship.
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The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was reportedly attacked near Oman, with two U.S. officials accusing Iran of the attack.
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a rise in fatalities among people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy police presence as authorities sealed off the area and gave no immediate explanation for the incident.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Japan's northeast coast on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities, the authorities said.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a rise in fatalities among people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy police presence as authorities sealed off the area and gave no immediate explanation for the incident.
Montenegrin police, working alongside the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, have arrested an Iranian national accused of carrying out a series of cyberattacks that allegedly caused an estimated $3.4 billion in damage to U.S. infrastructure.
South Korea is set to dramatically expand its unmanned warfare capabilities, with plans to integrate drones across all branches of its military as tensions with North Korea continue to shape the country's defence strategy.
Fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have begun to recover following an interim U.S.–Iran agreement aimed at stabilising the waterway after months of disruption during conflict, industry data shows.
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