Trade: Trump makes Juncker blink first

DONALD Trump yesterday hailed a ‘big day for free and fair trade’ as he held meetings with the EU’s Jean-Claude Juncker.

The two leaders agreed to waive tariffs on several key US imports in a meeting described by Mr Juncker, the president of the European Commission, as ‘good and constructive’.

But just hours before the meeting, Mr Trump attacked the EU and threatened Mr Juncker, by suggesting it was Brussels that stood in the way of free trade.

Mr Trump’s tone at the press conference suggested that the talks between the men were warmer than his previous tweets led others to believe.

It appeared that Mr Juncker had buckled to what the president wanted. Imports benefiting from the agreement range from shale gas to soya beans.

At the press conference, Mr Trump said: ‘We want to further strengthen this trade relationship to the benefit of all American and European citizens.

‘This is why we agreed today first of all to work together towards zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers and zero subsidies on non-auto industrial goods.’ Mr Juncker said: ‘I had the intention to make a deal today... We have identified a number of areas on which to work together, to work towards zero tariffs on industrial goods – that was my main intention: to propose to come down to zero tariffs on industrial goods.’