Merkel and Trump meet in a tense atmosphere

The main topics should be Iran and trade relations, a couple of days before the end of the ultimatum on the introduction of special tariffs on steel and aluminum.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met in Washington on Friday with US President Donald Trump.

The main topic of the talks should be a nuclear deal with Iran and trade relations between the European Union and the United States.

The meeting takes place in a tense atmosphere, several days before the end of the deadline for the introduction of special customs duties on steel and aluminum from the European Union.

Germany no longer counts on exemption from customs duties
According to the German media, referring to the government circles in Berlin, Germany no longer counts on the European Union to be exempted from the sanctions imposed by Washington.

This is in line with the failure of the Chancellor's visit to the United States, Hina reports.

Still, the German chancellor should continue to postpone the introduction of penalties in Washington, as the press writes, and in turn should be negotiating a new customs treaty on all industrial products except automobiles.

"The aim of Chancellor Angela Merkel is to deepen economic relations from which they would benefit both of them," the dpa quoted sources referring to the German government.

Washington expects the European Union to give in when it comes to customs duties on US cars.

Problematic topic and North Stream 2

"The US government would like to see some concessions on this issue," Economic Advisor Donald Trump Larry Kudlow told the CNBC TV station.

On the list of problematic issues Angela Merkel should handle with her host in Washington is also the project of the Baltic gas pipeline North Stream 2, which should provide Russian gas deliveries to Europe.

Washington believes Germany is entering this project in complete dependence on Russian gas.

The German side rejects it, claiming that only 37 percent of the gas in the German market comes from Russia, and not 60 percent as claimed by the Americans.

During a two-hour conversation late Friday afternoon with two European states, two statesmen should also discuss political issues, among which Donald Trump threatened to terminate a nuclear deal with Iran.

Macron tried to convince Trump about Iran

This week, French President Emmanuel Macron was trying to persuade Trump that it was important to maintain a nuclear deal.

Topics of talks on Friday should also be the German attitude towards NATO funding and frequent Washington's claims that Berlin is paying too little to the Atlantic Alliance.

German media describe the attitude of the German Chancellor and the US president as "difficult".

Trump has long accused Germany of "unfair" tactics in terms of trade relations, and Merkel immediately explained Trump's power to the authorities, explaining that Europe in the United States no longer has a partner to rely on.

The first meeting of the German Chancellor and US President last March passed in a cold atmosphere, and is remembered that Trump refused to handle the shooting during the shooting.

• 27 Apr, 2018
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