EU CHIEF URSULA VON der Leyen has said she will hold talks with US President Donald Trump in Scotland this weekend on the transatlantic tariffs standoff, with a week to go until a crunch negotiating deadline.

Trump departed for Scotland today for a mix of diplomacy, business and leisure, as a huge UK security operation swung into place amid planned protests near his family-owned golf resorts.

The president, whose mother was born in Scotland, is expected to split his time between two seaside golf courses bearing his name, in Turnberry on the southwestern coast and Aberdeen in the northeast.

Police outside the perimeter of Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire, ahead of the arrival of Trump to begin his five-day private trip to the country. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

In an push to slash his country’s trade deficits, Trump has vowed to hit dozens of countries with punitive tariff hikes if they do not hammer out a pact with Washington by 1 August.

The EU – which is facing an across-the-board levy of 30% – has been pushing hard for a deal with Trump’s administration, while also planning retaliation should talks fall short.

“Following a good call with POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong,” von der Leyen wrote on X.

Following a good call with @POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 25, 2025

The high-level meeting comes after days of signals suggesting the European Commission and US administration were inching towards an agreement – but Trump appeared to cast doubt on that scenario Friday.

Speaking to reporters as he left the White House on his way to Scotland, Trump estimated there was a “50-50″ chance of striking a deal with the 27-nation bloc.

The EU’s 27 countries have been allowing the European Commission – which leads trade policy for the bloc – to focus on seeking a deal to avoid hefty US tariffs.

According to multiple diplomats, the agreement under consideration would involve a baseline 15% US levy on EU goods, and potential carve-outs for critical sectors.

Most states prefer a deal to no deal – even with undesirable levies of 15% – but exemptions are key, with aircraft, steel, lumber, pharmaceutical products and agricultural goods under discussion, diplomats said.

The approaching August 1 deadline comes with a sense of deja-vu, however: earlier this month, EU officials also believed they were on the cusp of a deal, before Trump hiked his tariff threat to 30%.

Should talks fail, EU states yesterday backed a package of retaliation on €93 billion of US goods – to kick in in stages from 7 August.

Since launching its tariffs campaign, Trump’s administration has so far unveiled just five agreements, including with Britain, Japan and the Philippines.

- © AFP 2025