It was not the idyll that was seen with French President Emmanuel Macron. The meeting between Donald Trump and Angela Merkel at the White House appeared cordial but cold, confirming the lack of harmony between the two leaders. Donald Trump did not reveal whether he will apply the new duties on steel and aluminum to Europe as of May XNUMX, but in the press conference with Angela Merkel he strongly reiterated that it is imperative for the US to eliminate trade imbalances with the European Union .
Trump has once again called for "fair and reciprocal" trade, including with the European Union with which he is negotiating the potential exemption from duties on steel and aluminum. "We have a trade deficit in goods of around - hard to believe - 151 billion dollars of which 50 billion in cars and auto components" the US president began as he opened the conference following the bilateral summit. "I am committed to reducing the barriers for US exports with Merkel to find remedies for these trade imbalances and to strengthen our trade ties", Trump said, saying that the WTO "has not treated us well".
For her part, Angela Merckel stressed that the Iranian nuclear deal "is not perfect", stating that "close talks" with the US partner will continue. “I have set out my position according to which this agreement is far from perfect,” Merkel said of the Iranian nuclear deal, suggesting however that in her opinion it should be considered a starting point. “We will see what decisions our American partners take,” she added.
In conclusion, Angela Merkel seems to be going home empty-handed. In her face-to-face with Donald Trump, which lasted just over a couple of hours, neither on tariffs nor on the agreement with Iran, the German chancellor managed to scratch the American president, in a climate of substantial frost among the two leaders.
Barring sensational surprises, the tycoon will trigger the new tariffs on imports of steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) also towards Europe from XNUMX May, thus rejecting the request for a permanent exemption again made by Merkel on behalf of the whole European Union. This is the impression of commentators after the Washington summit.
Trump reiterated: "No more trade imbalances with the European Union, we need reciprocity", the reciprocity that for the tycoon is currently lacking, to the detriment of the American economy and jobs.
