The EU’s most senior official hopes to paper over the growing cracks in the EU-US partnership after a number of high-profile assaults on the Brussels project by the US President.
As part of his protectionist crackdown on trade, Mr Trump branded the EU a “foe” of the United States.
The American said: “I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now you wouldn’t think of the European Union, but they’re a foe.”
Messrs Juncker and Trump will focus their intention on transatlantic trade negotiations and “forging a strong economic partnership”, according to a European Commission announcement.
The EU’s executive body adds: “The two leaders will discuss the deep cooperation between the European Union and the United States government and institutions across a wide range of priorities, including foreign and security policy, counter terrorism, energy security and economic growth.”
Mr Juncker will be accompanied by the EU’s trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom on his Washington venture, the third trade mission undertaken the Commission President in little over a week.
A number of Brussels’ top bosses have made a successful trip to Asia this week, which involved the bloc signing off on one of its largest trade agreements with Japan.
Upon signing the EU-Japan deal, European Council President Donald Tusk said: “We are sending a clear message that we stand against protectionism. The EU and Japan remain open for cooperation.”
Mr Juncker added: “With the signature of the Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan we are making a statement about the future of free and fair trade.
The agreement puts fairness and values at its core. There is no protection in protectionism – and there is no unity where there is unilateralism.”
Trade tensions rose after the US imposed import tariffs on EU steel and aluminium at the start of June and have increased with Mr Trump’s threat that those tariffs could extend to EU cars.
Brussels threatened to hit back with its own tariffs, targeting US popular culture with taxes on Jeans, motorcycles and bourbon whisky all made in the country.