TRUMP V JUNCKER: US president fires warning to EU chief ahead of tense showdown

The US President showed no signs of backing down as he laid into the Brussels bloc once again in tweets which are likely to further complicate the meeting.

Just hours before EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker flies in to Washington, Mr Trump called for a mutual cancellations of “all tariffs, barriers and subsidies”.

But he fumed the Brussels bloc would not be willing to call a truce.

He tweeted: “The European Union is coming to Washington tomorrow to negotiate a deal on Trade.

“I have an idea for them. Both the U.S. and the E.U. drop all Tariffs, Barriers and Subsidies!

“That would finally be called Free Market and Fair Trade! Hope they do it, we are ready – but they won’t!”

Donald Trump has accused the EU of unfair trade practices and has threatened to raise tariffs on cars imported from the bloc.

Tense talks come after the US imposed tariffs on EU steel and aluminium and Mr Trump’s threats to extend those measures to European cars.

European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom, who will accompany Mr Juncker on his US visit, said that the EU was preparing a list of US products to hit if Mr Trump imposes tariffs.

On Monday, the commission said Mr Juncker will not arrive in Washington with a specific trade offer.

Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told a news conference in Brussels: “I do not wish to enter into a discussion about mandates, offers because there are no offers.”

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow has said he expected Mr Juncker to come with a “significant” trade offer.