European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that she will hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Scotland to address rising transatlantic tensions over tariffs, with only one week left before the negotiation deadline.
In a bid to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs on dozens of countries unless they strike trade deals with Washington by August 1.
The European Union — facing a proposed 30% blanket tariff — is seeking to avoid such measures through a deal with the Trump administration but is also preparing retaliatory actions if the talks fail.
“After a good phone call with the U.S. president, we agreed to meet on Sunday in Scotland to discuss transatlantic trade relations and ways to keep them strong,” von der Leyen posted on X.
This high-level meeting follows recent signs of progress between Brussels and Washington, but on Friday, Trump expressed skepticism, telling reporters before departing for Scotland that there was only a “50-50” chance of reaching a deal with the 27-member EU bloc.
The 27 EU countries have authorized the European Commission to lead negotiations aimed at avoiding heavy U.S. tariffs.
Earlier this month, EU officials were optimistic that a deal was imminent, before Trump escalated threats of a 30% tariff hike, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (REL).
If the negotiations collapse, EU member states have approved a retaliatory package targeting U.S. goods worth $109 billion, set to be implemented in phases beginning August 7.
Since launching his tariff campaign, Trump’s administration has already secured five trade agreements, including deals with the United Kingdom, Japan, and the Philippines.
