The EU’s exports to the U.S. declined in June and hit their lowest level since the end of 2023, according to statistics agency Eurostat.

The European political heavyweights expected in Washington are Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

European and NATO leaders announced Sunday that they will joining President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington for crucial talks with President Trump.

The European Union could not say when a joint statement on tariffs with the United States would be ready, nor when the White House would issue an executive order on European car import duties, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

A group of European countries supporting Ukraine said they welcomed President Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine but warned that they were prepared to increase sanctions and military pressure on Russia until the Kremlin stops the fighting.

The European Commission says it presumes the United States will impose a 15% tariff on most EU exports from Friday.

On July 27, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission and President Trump agreed to a deal that included a 15% tariff on most goods from the EU.

The European Union is trying to prevent the United States from targeting the bloc's digital rules as both sides work through the final details of a delayed statement to formalise a trade deal reached last month,