Despite warmth, Merkel and Trump fail to resolve differences on trade, Nato
WASHINGTON: German chancellor Angel Merkel became the second European ally of the US to return home after failing to convince President Donald Trump on the Iran deal and trade, while tensions over Nato spendings remained unresolved.
Merkel met Trump in a starkly understated White House visit in contrast to the pomp and show surrounding French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit earlier in week. But the results were identical. Trump has still not said he agreed with the Europeans to stay in the Iran deal. And neither Macron nor Merkel received any significant assurance on the exemption from tariffs on steel and aluminium that are slated to expire on May 1.
The two leaders displayed new warmth though, eager perhaps to put behind the awkwardness of the previous encounter. Trump received Merkel with a handshake and kiss on each cheek and congratulated her on her recent re-election.
But their remarks at the joint news briefing indicated there had been no significant progress on the differences over Iran, trade and Nato. Asked about their discussion on the Iran deal, Merkel said the deal was “anything but perfect”. She ended, revealing a lack of agreement, “we will now see what … decisions are made by American partners”.
“They’re not going to be doing nuclear weapons. You can bank on it,” Trump said when asked about the Iran deal, which faces a May 12 deadline for recertification by him to keep the US in it.