Von der Leyen, Trump agree to meet: EU spokesperson
The two leaders' meeting comes against a backdrop of global trade tensions over tariffs Trump announced -- and since walked back on -- on the United States' trading partners, including the European Union.
FILE: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Picture: AFP
ROME - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump agreed to hold a formal meeting when they spoke Saturday at Pope Francis's funeral, an EU spokesperson said.
"In their brief exchange, President von der Leyen and President Trump agreed to meet," commission spokesperson Paula Pinha said without giving a date. World leaders conducted a flurry of diplomacy on the sidelines of the last rites for the Argentine pontiff.
The two leaders' meeting comes against a backdrop of global trade tensions over tariffs Trump announced -- and since walked back on -- on the United States' trading partners, including the European Union.
The EU is negotiating with the Trump administration in the hopes of obtaining an exemption on the levies, which include 25% taxes on European automobiles, aluminium and steel.
On a visit to Washington on Friday, the EU's economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said more work was needed to conclude an agreement.
Trump has repeatedly expressed disdain for the EU, and has typically favoured talks with the leaders of member states rather than with those at the head of the bloc's institutions.