Despite warmth, Merkel and Trump still differ on trade and NATO

[rooster59]

Despite warmth, Merkel and Trump still differ on trade and NATO

By Jeff Mason and Andreas Rinke

 

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the White House Oval Office in Washington, U.S., April 27, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump aired differences over trade and NATO on Friday at a White House meeting where they tried to put on a show of warmth and friendship despite tensions between the two allies.

 

With Trump poised to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium soon that will impact European exports, Merkel said the decision is now in Trump's hands on whether to grant exemptions to European Union nations.

 

"We had an exchange of views. The decision lies with the president," Merkel told a joint press conference after Trump complained about the U.S.-European trade imbalance, particularly in regards to automobiles.

 

Merkel's quick trip came the same week as a three-day state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who, like Merkel, pressed Trump on trade and urged him to keep the United States in a multi-national nuclear deal with Iran. Neither leader appeared to make significant progress convincing Trump on either issue.

 

Merkel said she could see negotiating a bilateral trade deal between the EU and the United States, saying the World Trade Organization has been unable to deliver multilateral agreements.

 

Trump said he wanted a "reciprocal" trade relationship with Germany and other European nations and wanted Germany and other NATO allies to pay more for their common defence, an issue he has raised repeatedly.

 

"We need a reciprocal relationship, which we don't have... We're working on it and we want to make it more fair and the chancellor wants to make it more fair," Trump said.

 

After their last White House meeting drew attention when the two leaders did not shake hands in the Oval Office, Trump made a point of doing just that, twice, while congratulating the German chancellor on her recent election win. They exchanged kisses on the cheek when she first arrived at the White House.

 

"We have a really great relationship, and we actually have had a great relationship right from the beginning, but some people didn't understand that," Trump said in the Oval Office, calling Merkel a "very extraordinary woman."

 

MANY DIFFERENCES

 

Merkel acknowledged that it took a while to form a government after heavy election losses to the far-right, but she said it was important to her to make her first trip out of Europe since establishing her administration to Washington.

 

The cautious Merkel has not established a particularly strong personal rapport with the brash Trump, and the mood of her one-day working visit contrasted sharply with the tactile "bromance" between Trump and Macron.

 

Chemistry aside, Merkel was careful to praise Trump's progress on North Korea while addressing some of his concerns point by point on defence spending, which she said Berlin was increasing, and German cars, many of which she noted were produced in the United States.

 

On the Iran nuclear deal, Merkel said it was a first step that had helped reduce nuclear activities and better monitor them but added:

"We Germans think it’s not enough to really ensure Iran takes on a role founded in reliability so more is necessary."

 

Macron made the European position on the Iran nuclear deal clear ahead of Merkel's visit.

 

On Wednesday, he called on the United States not to abandon the Iran deal as Western envoys said Britain, France and Germany were nearing agreeing a package they hope could persuade Trump to save the pact.

 

Trump will decide by May 12 whether to revive U.S. sanctions on Iran. Doing so would be a serious blow to the nuclear deal, which many Western countries sees as essential for stopping Tehran developing a nuclear bomb.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-28

[Expatthailover]

Not sure if trump is fit to share the same podium as someone with her track record, integrity and statesmanship.

What he says in their presence and what he tweets afterwards must be very disconcerting for grown up politicians

[eliotness]

41 minutes ago, Expatthailover said:

Not sure if trump is fit to share the same podium as someone with her track record, integrity and statesmanship.

What he says in their presence and what he tweets afterwards must be very disconcerting for grown up politicians

Did you really mean "her track record" in a serious way or was it sarcasm ?

[blazes]

One thing's for sure this weekend:  Melania is not wondering whether her hubby is shacked up with the German Chancellor.

[55Jay]

FYI White House Handlers: the attempt at displaying warmth failed.   Of course, that's why THIS photo was chosen out of the 100s taken.

 

These intimate media sessions are awkward to begin with, not just Trump, but man, he always looks like he's about to bolt out of the room at any moment.

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, blazes said:

One thing's for sure this weekend:  Melania is not wondering whether her hubby is shacked up with the German Chancellor.

I agree. It's clear that Merkel has something for superior waiting for her at home:

This is about her husband,  Joachim Sauer:

"In 1992, he joined the Max Planck Society as Head of the Quantum Chemistry Group in Berlin. Since 1993, he has been a full professor of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry at the Humboldt University of Berlin. He is an active research scientist in quantum chemistry and computational chemistry. His computational studies have allowed for a better understanding of the structures and activities of some catalysts such as zeolites, specifically their acid sites,^[4] as well as the interpretation of solid state NMR spectra of nucleus Si-29, and quadrupolar nuclei such as Na-23,^[5] Al-27 and O-17.^[6][7]"

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, Expatthailover said:

Not sure if trump is fit to share the same podium as someone with her track record, integrity and statesmanship.

What he says in their presence and what he tweets afterwards must be very disconcerting for grown up politicians

 

Integrity and statesmanship - like changing from a communist youth leader with secret police associations to a Christian Democrat; like never really answering just how much she knew about VW's massive emissions deliberate fraud or when she knew it; like her open door policy and attempts to browbeat other EU countries into helping sort her mess out whilst never ever admitting she was wrong?

 

Trump is more than fit to share the platform with Mutti Merkel. 

[puck2]

37 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Integrity and statesmanship - like changing from a communist youth leader with secret police associations to a Christian Democrat;  ..........

Really?

Please enlighten us about „changing from a communist youth leader with secret police associations“.

.

[blazes]

Don't worry about her secret police and commie connections.  As we now know (thank you, Edward Snowden) the CIA is able to tap into Frau Merkel's cell phone.  I guess the American government wanted (or wants) to interfere in German elections.  Of course, it is absolutely necessary for the CIA to tap and interfere cos it is a matter of "national security".

[Grouse]

5 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Integrity and statesmanship - like changing from a communist youth leader with secret police associations to a Christian Democrat; like never really answering just how much she knew about VW's massive emissions deliberate fraud or when she knew it; like her open door policy and attempts to browbeat other EU countries into helping sort her mess out whilst never ever admitting she was wrong?

 

Trump is more than fit to share the platform with Mutti Merkel. 

Surprisingly facile arguments from you!

 

I would leave the emissions issue to one side unless you REALLY understand the issues. I recently had to deal with another member who was, er, inadequately informed

 

Concerning immigrants and refugees this also not a simple issue. I am anti Islam but would wish do do everything possible to help refugees. Merkel certainly got the heart/head balance incorrect but is doing much to correct the position.

 

How many refugees have been taken in by the USA and the UK? Not a very Christian stance  now is it?

[maximillian]

5 hours ago, puck2 said:

Really?

Please enlighten us about „changing from a communist youth leader with secret police associations“.

 

Do you know how to use Google ? 

Try to avoid the streamline media. (MSM)

[maximillian]

45 minutes ago, Grouse said:

How many refugees have been taken in by the USA and the UK?

Not a very Christian stance now, is it?

 

At this rare occasion I have to agree with Grouse.

[tomacht8]

Higher tariffs on steel imports ok. In return, Europe should pull out the plug from Microsoft , Google , Facebook and the spy software of the NSA.

[puck2]

On 28.4.2018 at 8:53 PM, maximillian said:

Do you know how to use Google ? 

Try to avoid the streamline media. (MSM)

 

Different from Baerboxer – and maybe you - I had used google (German).

 

And google told me that she herself never had denied having been a „communist youth leader“ (in FDJ). But half true sometimes is like lying or slandering. The last part of Baerboxer's „changing from a communist youth leader with secret police associations“ isn't proven at all, until now.

 

With a little bit of (google)knowledge about the former (Eastern) communist state you would know, that the students have been handpicked for a study by some „qualifications“. Intelligence was not a priority. So Merkel's chance to get a university place was the communist youth organization.

 

@maximimillian, Because of his slandering I asked Baerboxer to enlighten us about „changing from a communist youth leader with secret police associations“. You and B. failed to do so.