Trump: There is no question of going below 15 percent. Von der leyen: It's about restoring balance

American President Donald Trump said on Sunday just before the start of talks about the trade agreement with the chairwoman of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, that there is no question of going below the customs rate of 15 percent. for goods imported from the EU to the USA. He assessed the chances of agreement as “big”.

Von der Leyen announced that if it was possible to communicate, it would be concluded “the largest contract that any of us saw”.

– It's a fact. Who anyone has ever made – Trump echoed.

Trump: In conversations with the EU there is no question of going below the customs rate of 15 percent.

US President Donald Trump before starting a conversation with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that in a potential agreement with the EU there is no question of going down below the customs rate of 15 percent. He added, if we manage to communicate, “at least a few years will pass before we have to discuss it again.”

Trump revealed that the trade agreement between the EU and the US, which he talks to the head of the EC on Sunday in Scotland, will not apply to pharmaceuticals. According to him, steel and aluminum will not be excluded from the agreement, covered by 50 %.

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Asked whether after the conclusion of the US agreement they would not impose new duties on the EU, Trump emphasized that if the contract is concluded, it would be final.

– Yes, I think, I think, at least a few years before we have to discuss it again. No, it would be the end – emphasized the US president.

Von der Leyen: In commercial conversations between the EU and the USA, it's about restoring balance

The chairwoman of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen before starting the final negotiations over the trade agreement with US President Donald Trump said that they were about “restoring balance.” Like Trump, she assessed the chances of its conclusion “50 to 50”.

– I think the president is right. We have 50 to 50 percent chances to conclude a contract – said von der Leyen before the conversation. – And indeed, it's about restoring balance. This can be called justice. This can be called a restoration of balance – she added.

– We have a surplus and the United States has a deficit and we must restore it – emphasized the head of the EC.

She added that the US and the EU are the two largest economies in the world. “If you look at the trade volume, this is the largest volume of trade in the world, with $ 1.7 trillion between us,” said von der Leyen. (PAP)

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