Trump Seeks 15% Tariffs in Trade Talks with EU Commission

US President Donald Trump has made it clear that tariffs on European Union exports to the United States will not fall below 15%, emphasizing his commitment to achieving what he calls commercial justice for the US. Ahead of high-stakes trade talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump reaffirmed that pharmaceutical products will be excluded from the agreement, citing their strategic importance to domestic manufacturing. Both leaders estimated a 50% chance of reaching a deal to rebalance the transatlantic trade relationship, which currently favors the EU, and acknowledged that a successful agreement could be one of the largest between the two economies. The negotiations, held at Trump's golf resort in Scotland, come just before a critical August 1 deadline when the US plans to impose 30% tariffs on European goods if no accord is reached. Meanwhile, the European Commission is moving forward with a new trade agreement with Ukraine that enhances quotas and liberalizes trade in several agricultural products, despite reservations from some EU member states. The Commission insists the agreement will not be reopened for amendments before the EU Council vote.