“The agreement on the duties with the EU will be the biggest one of all”. Donald Trump said it in Scotland. “I can’t wait to meet Ursula von der Leyen Sunday, she is a very respected woman,” added the US president upon her arrival.
“Intense technical and political negotiations are underway between the EU and the USA. The leaders will now take stock of the situation and will evaluate the possibility of achieving a balanced result that guarantees stability and predictability to businesses and consumers on both banks of the Atlantic”. This is what Paula Pinho, spokesman for the EU Commission, explains, in view of the summit in Scotland between Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump.
Von Der Leyen sees Trump, the agreement on duties is one step
(The point of Michele Esposito at 20:30 Italian time of 25 July 2025)
Turnberry, Estuary of the Clyde River, south-west of Scotland. It is here that Sunday European Union and the United States are called to tighten their hand by closing, at least temporarily, the very long negotiation on the duties. At the table there will be Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen. It will be the first, true bilateral between the two since the tycoon resumed possession of the White House.
The president of the Commission, confirming the rumors circulating in a Brussels now emptied by the summer break, announced the flash journey that will avoid entering the trap of the oval studio. A journey that preludes an agreement now reached the final jokes. The draft agreement would already be on the thirteenth floor of the Palais Berlaymont, where Von der Leyen was able to view her on the return from China. The president of the EU executive has always argued that he would not go to Trump before having a substantial ancent scheme on the table. The unpredictability of the interlocutor recalls even the caution of the most optimists but in the general direction Trade, protagonist of the preparatory works, begin to see a light at the bottom of the tunnel. The number that unlocked the stall is 15%, deemed bearable by the European chancelleries. And it is a percentage on which, evidently, he also agreed the tycoon. “I had a good phone call with Trump, we agreed to see each other in Scotland to discuss transatlantic commercial relations and how to keep them strong,” wrote Von der Leyen on X. The meeting to be held in Scotland marks a definitive turning point on the negotiation of the duties but it is not said that leads to the formalization of the ceased already on Sunday. In the headquarters directed to the Trump Golf Club there will be Von der Leyen and the EU commissioner to the Maros Sefcovic trade, accompanied by their respective staff. The contours of the bilateral are far from defined but, sources close to the dossier, they explain that it could be divided into two phases: in one there will also be the Sherpas, in a second, narrow, there will be only von der Leyen and Trump. Beyond percentages and exemptions, the president of the Commission will punctualize some principles that regulate EU commercial relations with third countries. Principles related to free trade and reliability of partnership. Before taking off for Scotland Trump, speaking with the reporters, he gave the impression of wanting to curb the optimism of the last few days.
The understanding will be 50%”while” on steel and aluminum there is not much room for maneuver “, he underlined. Translated, on the first two sectors affected by American duties the percentage will remain 50%. It is on everything else that the negotiation is in rapid evolution. Crucial will be the confirmation of some sectarian exemptions, from agri -food products to alcohol, from medical devices to wood. Node of drugs as an appendix. Clause of the most favorite nation so far in force between the two sides of the Atlantic. It will send new letters on the duties to third countries.