German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump have aired differences over trade and NATO at a White House meeting where they tried to put on a show of warmth despite tensions between the two allies.
With Trump poised to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium soon that will impact European exports, Merkel said the decision is now in Trump's hands on whether to grant exemptions to European Union nations.
"We had an exchange of views. The decision lies with the president," Merkel told a joint press conference after Trump complained about the US-European trade imbalance, particularly in regards to automobiles.
Merkel's quick trip came the same week as a three-day state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who, like Merkel, pressed Trump on trade and urged him to keep the United States in a multi-national nuclear deal with Iran.
Neither leader appeared to make significant progress convincing Trump on either issue.
Merkel said she could see negotiating a bilateral trade deal between the EU and the United States, saying the World Trade Organisation has been unable to deliver multilateral agreements.
Trump said he wanted a "reciprocal" trade relationship with Germany and other European nations and wanted Germany and other NATO allies to pay more for their common defence, an issue he has raised repeatedly.
After their last White House meeting drew attention when the two leaders did not shake hands in the Oval Office, Trump made a point of doing just that, twice, while congratulating the German chancellor on her recent election win. They exchanged kisses on the cheek when she first arrived at the White House.
Chemistry aside, Merkel was careful to praise Trump's progress on North Korea while addressing some of his concerns point by point on defence spending, which she said Berlin was increasing, and German cars, many of which she noted were produced in the United States.
