Trump Says 100hance of Trade Deal as EU Reportedly Mulls Possible Export ...

TMTPOST -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed full confidence in a trade deal with the European Union as his European counterpart is reportedly mulling possible countermeasures in case of failed negotiation.

Credit：China Central Television

Trump said he saw 100hance of a trade deal between the United States and the EU when he met with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. “There will be a trade deal, 100%,” Trump said. “but it will be a fair deal”. The Europeans “want to make one very much,” He added.

Trump claimed he would have very little problem to strike a deal with the EU to reduce tariffs in exchange for access to a U.S. market, in which he said has something everyone wants. But he suggested he’s not hurry to make the deal. “We’re in no rush,” said Trump.“We are going to have very little problem making a deal with Europe or anyone else.”

Meloni, as the first European leader to visit Washington during Trump’s second term, also talked up the chances of a deal. The prime minister said she was "sure" they could reach an agreement, though stressed Trump needs to engage with other EU leaders for she personally can not work on the deal in the name of the bloc.

While said her aim was to "make the West great again" and she felt “we can do it together.” The prime minister said she had discussed with Trump about the potential areas where the Europe and U.S. can cooperate, such as defense, space and energy. Italy will have to increase its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, she said.

The U.S. is giving priority to tariff negotiations with the “big 15” economies, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a news conference with Trump alongside Meloni. “We had a fantastic meeting with Japan yesterday, I believe there have been calls with the EU already, and then we have South Korea coming in next week and I believe India is also talking, [and] that’s moving very quickly,” he continued.

Trump said the U.S. is doing very well in negotiations, and if other countries don’t want a deal “we’ll make a deal for them”, suggesting a threat to reimpose reciprocal tariffs when the 90-day pause on tariffs ends in early July. He said trading agreements with partners would happen at a certain point and other nations would need to make concessions, though not providing timetable for when he expected the first of deals to be finalized.

Earlier Thursday, Bloomberg reported the EU is weighing a proposal to introduce restrictions on some exports to the U.S. as part of retaliation if negotiations over tariffs break down. Such restrictions would be used as a deterrent only in case of negotiations failure to lead to a satisfactory outcome, according to the report.

The EU officials were reported to expect the Trump administration would remain most of its tariffs on the bloc after the two-hour meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Monday.

It was said that American officials indicated 20% reciprocal tariffs and other sectoral tariffs such as those on cars would not be removed outright. The U.S. would like to see European chemical firms produce more precursors used in the pharmaceutical industry in the U.S., integrate supply chains, have preferential procurement and suggested the EU should increase the price of its medicines, the report cited sources.

The U.S. government wants the EU to develop a proposal for levies on steel, aluminum and possible new tariffs on copper, while floating the possibility of common tariffs, per the sources. The Trump administration has reportedly shown little appetite in working more LNG purchases for the EU to avoid tariffs.