This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39300452
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Merkel and Trump to discuss trade and defence in US talks | Merkel and Trump to discuss trade and defence in US talks |
(about 4 hours later) | |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet President Donald Trump in Washington, with transatlantic trade and Nato ties high on the agenda. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to meet President Donald Trump in Washington, with transatlantic trade and Nato ties high on the agenda. |
Mr Trump has ruffled feathers in Germany by threatening its carmakers with tariffs and calling on Berlin to boost defence spending. | Mr Trump has ruffled feathers in Germany by threatening its carmakers with tariffs and calling on Berlin to boost defence spending. |
Mrs Merkel will be accompanied by top executives from German companies Siemens, Schaeffler and car giant BMW. | Mrs Merkel will be accompanied by top executives from German companies Siemens, Schaeffler and car giant BMW. |
Her visit was scheduled for Tuesday but had to be postponed due to a snowstorm. | Her visit was scheduled for Tuesday but had to be postponed due to a snowstorm. |
Ahead of Friday's talks, Mrs Merkel told a German newspaper she was looking forward to her first meeting with President Trump. | Ahead of Friday's talks, Mrs Merkel told a German newspaper she was looking forward to her first meeting with President Trump. |
"It's always better to talk with each other than about each other," she told Saarbruecker Zeitung. | "It's always better to talk with each other than about each other," she told Saarbruecker Zeitung. |
During his presidential campaign, Mr Trump threatened higher import taxes for countries such as Germany that have a trade surplus over America. | During his presidential campaign, Mr Trump threatened higher import taxes for countries such as Germany that have a trade surplus over America. |
But Mrs Merkel said there was a lot of direct German investment in the US. | But Mrs Merkel said there was a lot of direct German investment in the US. |
She said BMW's plant in the US exported "more cars than GM and Ford together" from the United States, adding: "I'll make that clear." | She said BMW's plant in the US exported "more cars than GM and Ford together" from the United States, adding: "I'll make that clear." |
On Friday morning, Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said Germany could file a suit against any hike in import duties at the World Trade Organization (WTO). | |
"There are procedures laid out there because in the WTO agreements it is clearly laid out that you're not allowed to take more than 2.5% taxes on imports of cars," Ms Zypries told Deutschlandfunk radio - Mr Trump has suggested a 35% levy. | |
"It wouldn't be the first time that Mr Trump has lost in the courts," she added. | |
Friday's summit has been highly anticipated as the two leaders have publicly differed on key issues. | |
In January, Mr Trump said the German chancellor had made "a catastrophic mistake" by allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants into Germany. | In January, Mr Trump said the German chancellor had made "a catastrophic mistake" by allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants into Germany. |
Mrs Merkel responded by saying the EU had to take responsibility for itself. "We Europeans have our fate in our own hands," she said. | Mrs Merkel responded by saying the EU had to take responsibility for itself. "We Europeans have our fate in our own hands," she said. |
More on Trump and Merkel: | More on Trump and Merkel: |
For her part, Mrs Merkel has criticised President Trump's controversial travel ban that targets the citizens of several mainly Muslim countries. | For her part, Mrs Merkel has criticised President Trump's controversial travel ban that targets the citizens of several mainly Muslim countries. |
In January, she explained during a phone call to him that the Geneva Convention obliges signatories, including the US, to take in refugees of war on humanitarian grounds. | In January, she explained during a phone call to him that the Geneva Convention obliges signatories, including the US, to take in refugees of war on humanitarian grounds. |
The two leaders are due to hold more than two hours of talks followed by a working lunch. | The two leaders are due to hold more than two hours of talks followed by a working lunch. |
The agenda is also expected to cover foreign policy issues involving Russia, Syria, Iran, North Korea and the Middle East peace process. | The agenda is also expected to cover foreign policy issues involving Russia, Syria, Iran, North Korea and the Middle East peace process. |