Possible trade agreement with the European Union said the US president would discuss Donald Trump With German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz, adding that he hopes to use the deal to boost US energy exports.
“We will have a good trade agreement. I mean, I suppose this will be mainly determined by the European Union, but you are a very large part of it, “Trump said today (5.6.2025), welcoming the leader of Europe’s largest economy to the White House.
“We have so much oil and gas. You will not be able to buy it all. I mean literally. We have so much. And I hope we will do this part of our trade agreement, “Trump said, stressing his efforts to boost American energy production and find more markets.
It is noted that Thursday’s meeting between Mertz and Trump was the first test for the 69 -year -old conservative who became Germany’s new leader last month. Mertz visits Washington in an effort to boost the bonds that have been burdened by Trump’s sweeping duties and Russia’s war in Ukraine – issues that are expected to dominate their agenda, according to Bloomberg.
Mertz presented to Trump the birth certificate of his German grandfather, who was born in the village of Kallstadt in 1869 and later migrated to New York as a 16 -year -old man and made his fortune to restaurant business. “We will put it in an honor,” Trump said.
The gift is part of Mertz’s charm and is supposed to remind the American president his German roots. However, it is clear that it also has a political message for Trump, who has criticized post -war Germany that he has benefited from US military protection without paying for her share.
Mertz’s visit is critical to commercial talks, as only a few weeks remain in place for the 50% duty that Trump threatened to almost all European Union products. The EU and the US have been involved in talks to prevent higher taxes on imports, but Trump complains about the level of progress and launches new threats that have increased tensions.
Trump signed a decree on Tuesday (3.6.2025) to double the US steel and aluminum duties at 50%, causing the rage of European officials, who argue that the move is undermining the negotiations and threatened with retaliation if no agreement is reached.
Trump has suggested that if he is unable to reach agreements with commercial partners, he will simply reconcile into a level of duties.
“We will come up with a trade agreement or move on with the duties,” Trump told Mertz on Thursday (5.6.2025), explaining: “I mean, I’m okay with the duties or we make a trade agreement.”
US merchant representative Jameson Green and his European counterpart gave an optimistic tone after a meeting in Paris on Wednesday. EU Commissioner Maros Sefsovic said the talks are heading in the “right direction”, although he noted that new contributions do not help maintain dynamics. Greer said in a statement that the negotiations are “fast moving”.
Trump’s complaints about the EU are long -term. He recently accused the block of delaying negotiations and unjustly targeting US companies with lawsuits and regulations. It threatened to impose a 50% higher duty on the block from June 1, but postponed it for July 9 after a telephone contact with European Commission President Ursula von der Laien.
Trump’s duties are also legally threatened, as the US International Trade Court ruled that the majority of contributions were illegally issued and ordered their exclusion. This decision was suspended by the Court of Appeal as it examines the matter. The uncertainty about Trump’s commercial policies has caused volatility to global financial markets in recent months.