Trump and von der Leyen agree that the chances of a deal are 50% ahead of their crucial meeting in Scotland
Both leaders have responded to press questions in Turnberry, west of Scotland, before the meeting that is already underway at Trump's golf course.
U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have agreed that the chances of signing a trade agreement are at 50% within a few days of the end of the August 1 ultimatum.
Prior to the meeting, which has already begun in Turnberry, Scotland, statements have been made to the media. "We will know in an hour," Trump said, before sitting down to negotiate with the President of the European Commission. The US president, as he has been doing for months, has stressed that the important thing for him is to reach a "fair" agreement because he believes his country is at a disadvantage.
"There are three or four points of conflict left. I prefer not to get into these right now. We're going to discuss them. But I think the key lies in justice," he said, adding that his country has gone through "very difficult times" in trade with Europe, "and I'd like it to be resolved," he said.
"The United States has a deficit and we need to balance that. We have an excellent trade relationship. It's a huge volume of joint trade, so we need to make it more sustainable," he said.
Von der Leyen, for his part, has agreed on the firm's forecasts, but has stressed the extraordinary importance of the signature between the United States and the EU, "the two largest economies in the world." And if we look at our markets, it's a huge market: 800 million people, if we join the United States and the European Union. So I really want to work with you, "he said, addressing Trump.
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