Subject: Travel pool report #14 — meeting with Swiss president
w/ a big assist from co-pooler Gabby Orr
The pool was brought into Trump’s bilateral meeting with Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga at 4:14 pm.
Scavino, Kudlow, Grisham, Lighthizer, O’Brien, Mulvaney, Mnuchin and Ross were all present.
POTUS said the meeting would focus on trade. He said the Swiss want to make a trade agreement.
TRUMP: “We have a tremendous relationship. We’re working on other matters also, but today we’re going to be discussing largely trade with Switzerland. They want to do a deal and we’ll see what we can do.”
SWISS LEADER:
“Very glad” to have this bilat. “We agree about three main issues: bilateral engagement, economic ties and also global warming. I think it’s worth it also to talk about that.”
TRUMP: “Sure. We look forward to it.”
Trump was asked what he agreed to with Macron on France’s digital tax. He said he and Macron had a “good conversation.”
“The US is very happy with the result.”
“We appreciate very much what president macron did.”
He did not say specifically what Macron did
Subject: Travel pool reports #15 — Pakistan bilat
W/ an assist from Gabby Orr
Pool was brought into Trump’s bilat with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan at 5:31 pm.
POTUS said they planned to talk about trade and Kashmir.
Re: Kashmir: “We’ve been watching that and following it very very closely.”
TRUMP: “Trade is going to be of very, very paramount importance. We’re doing more trade as it turns out, and we’re working together on some borders and Kashmir...”
“It’s an honor to be with my friend and thank you very much.”
IMRAN KHAN: “Good to see you again. Yes there are issues we we are going to talk about. Main issue concerns the U.S. and Pakistan, and for it luckily we are on the same page...”
Khan said he wants “an orderly transition in Afghanistan and talks with taliban and the government and also India... is a big issue for us.”
Re: India, Khan said:
“We hope the US will play its part in resolving it because no other country can.”
(Q: Will you visit Pakistan during India trip?) Trump: “Well, we’re visiting right now, so we won’t have to. From the standpoint of our two countries, we’re getting along very well... We are very close right now because of the relationship we have.”
(Q: Will you impose tariffs on European automobiles?)
“We expect to be able make a deal with Europe.”
If they can’t make a deal, “we’ll give that very strong consideration”
“If they’re fair, we’re not going to have a problem.”