WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump welcomed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to the White House Monday.
"It's a great honor," Trump instructed Rutte. "We have a very close relationship."
The two world leaders are set to meet within the Oval Office the place Trump is anticipated to press for a increase in protection spending from the Netherlands together with free and honest commerce throughout Europe.
"We are very close to making good, fair trade deals for our taxpayers and our workers," Trump mentioned.
"We have to work something out," Rutte added. "The relationship with US and Netherlands is 400 years old."
The talks come amid commerce tensions with allies and the upcoming NATO summit in Brussels.
The European Union is warning Trump not to go ahead with tariffs on auto imports – or count on retaliatory tariffs to the tune of $300 billion on US exports.
On Sunday, Canada hit the United States with practically $13 billion in counter-tariffs after the Trump administration slapped duties on aluminum and metal imported to the United States.
US allies are upset with Trump after he imposed a 25 % tariff on imported metal and a 10 % tariff on aluminum.
"I think the EU, we will be meeting with them fairly soon," Trump mentioned. "If we do work it out, it will be positive."
Following the NATO summit, Trump is scheduled to sit down with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on July 16.