US President Donald Trump hosts European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker today for what is set to be a tense face-to-face, with efforts to resolve a festering trade dispute between the two key economies seemingly deadlocked.
Speaking ahead of the White House talks, Juncker admitted he was "not very optimistic," while Trump kicked off the day with a combative series of tweets vowing "no weakness" in the multiple fights he has launched with America's trade partners.
"I know Mr Trump pretty well," Juncker told German public broadcaster ZDF. "I have met him frequently and know how to deal with him." "We are here to explain ourselves and explore ways to avoid a trade war," he said, stressing that the European Union is "not in the dock -- we don't need to defend ourselves."
Juncker also renewed a promise of immediate retaliatory measures should
While Juncker is set to make a last effort to talk Trump out of the auto tariffs, which would hurt Germany's dominant carmakers, he warned that if the US moved ahead, "we are in a position to respond appropriately right away."
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