Trump says chances of EU trade deal remain at '50-50'

US president Donald Trump plays golf at his Trump Turnberry golf course in Scotland. He will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in the country on Sunday. Picture: Robert Perry/PA Wire

US president Donald Trump has said he wants to see a trade deal reached with the EU, but the chances remained at “50-50”.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen agreed the chances were 50-50, while describing Mr Trump as being a tough negotiator and a “dealmaker”.

She added if a deal was reached between the EU and US, it would be the “biggest deal ever struck”.

The two leaders were speaking during a meeting at Mr Trump’s Scottish golf resort in Turnberry.

The US President said he was “not in a good mood” as he sat down with Ms von der Leyen, but denied it was due to his day playing golf.

Mr Trump said there were three or four sticking points in negotiations at present, saying the main one was “fairness”.

“I think I look forward to this meeting. You know, we've had a hard time with trade with Europe, very hard time, and I'd like to see it resolved,” Mr Trump said.

“I’d like to see it resolved, but if it isn’t we’ll, you know, have tariffs. They’ll [Europe] do what they have to do, but we have a good chance of getting it resolved.

“We’ll probably know in about an hour.” However, asked if the US would accept a lower tariff rate than 15%, Mr Trump said he would not.

Mr Trump confirmed that pharmaceuticals would not be on the agenda today.

“Basically pharmaceuticals won’t be part of it because we have to have them made in the United States. I think it’s easy to say and it’s important to say pharmaceuticals are very special.

“We can’t be in a position where we’re relying on other countries. Now, Europe is gonna make pharmaceuticals, drugs and everything else for us too – a lot – but we’re going to have also our own.” 

The US President said, while the EU and US have a “very good relationship”, the trade relationship has been one-sided in recent years.

Asked if he planned to visit his golf course in Doonbeg during his term, Mr Trump said he would.

"I love Doonbeg. I'll go, not in this trip, but I'll go soon," Mr Trump said.

'Critical moment'

Ahead of the crunch meeting, Tánaiste Simon Harris has been engaging with EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic who is also due to attend the talks.

The Government has described the meeting as a “critical moment” for the future trading relationship between EU and US.

Government officials have said there is a cautious optimism about the prospects of a deal, but it is likely to be only a framework agreement with further line-by-line negotiations required in the months ahead.

“Over recent weeks, the EU has been engaged in intensive negotiations with the US to try and bring about an outcome that avoids unnecessary trade barriers. Ireland has strongly supported this calm and measured response from the EU,” a spokesperson for Mr Harris said.

“The Tánaiste has been heavily engaged with colleagues across member states, as well as with Commissioner Šefčovič. He also held discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last month and continues to maintain contact with the US administration.” 

The spokesperson confirmed Mr Harris would be in contact with the members of the Government’s trade forum once an agreement is reached.

'Decisive moment'

Meanwhile, Ireland’s European Commissioner Michael McGrath described the meeting between Mr Trump and Ms von der Leyen as being a “significant and decisive moment”.

Mr McGrath, the EU Comissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, said there would be substantive negotiations underway on Sunday.

“It’s a significant moment, we hope a decisive moment, and it builds on an enormous amount of work that has been done over quite a period of time,” Mr McGrath said, speaking on RTÉ Radio.

It is a live negotiation. We are hoping for a conclusion and for a good outcome on behalf of the European Union, but we also have to be prepared that other outcomes are possible.” 

Mr McGrath said the “final items” in the negotiations required direct input from Mr Trump and Ms von der Leyen.

“It is not a case of turning up and signing on the dotted line. There will be a real discussion that will happen, and it will take on a dynamic of its own, and let’s see what happens over the course of the afternoon.” 

The Commissioner said there is a “changed reality” now compared to six months ago, before tariffs were confirmed by the Trump administration, and EU countries should consider this when deciding whether or not to back a deal.

“The member states will have to make a calculation as to whether the cost of stability and certainty is worth it, because we know there is a real cost to economies and indeed to businesses throughout the European Union of the prolonged period of uncertainty that we have had.

“We are negotiating right up to the very end for the best deal.”