European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed interest in engaging in trade negotiations with the United States and potentially visiting the White House to discuss a concrete trade package. Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, von der Leyen emphasized the importance of having a specific agreement to bring to the table for discussions with President Donald Trump.
Although von der Leyen had a brief encounter with Trump at Pope Francis' funeral, an official meeting to discuss trade matters is still pending. The European Commission recently proposed additional tariffs on €95 billion worth of US exports, targeting sectors such as aircraft, American-made cars, and bourbon, if satisfactory outcomes are not achieved through negotiations.
Despite the tariff proposal, von der Leyen emphasized that the EU is more inclined towards reaching a mutually agreeable solution through negotiations rather than escalating tensions. However, the commission is prepared with countermeasures if a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached.
Following Trump's praise for von der Leyen as "fantastic" during an event in the Oval Office where a trade deal with the UK was announced, the President expressed optimism about meeting with the EU Commission President. Stating that the European Union is a significant entity, Trump indicated a willingness to engage in discussions with von der Leyen regarding trade matters.