Donald Trump will arrive in Scotland for a five-day visit next Friday and will hold talks with the Prime Minister and First Minister in meetings that will focus on energy and tariffs.
Mr Trump will spend time in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire between 25 and 29 July. It is not known when he will meet Sir Keir Starmer and John Swinney but they are under pressure to concede some ground on the US president’s call for a continuation of oil and gas production.
It sets the scene for a showdown over renewables and Mr Trump’s call for the windmills to be torn down.
Sir Keir and Mr Swinney will be at one on insisting the green agenda is unstoppable, so the main issue will be the extent to which they may soften their position on fossil fuels. There are calls within the energy sector for reform of the energy profits levy, or windfall tax, which is deterring investment and creating job losses.
Mr Trump’s tariffs have been gentler on the UK than on many other parts of the world, including the EU, but Sir Keir and Mr Swinney will seek assurances that he has no plans to toughen trade barriers.
Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “While I don’t expect he will get a warm reception from the Scottish public, it’s clear that John Swinney should use this opportunity to try to tackle the threat that Trump’s tariffs pose to Scottish businesses.
“He should also make quite clear commitments that the we want to see the entire Western world stand with Ukraine and ensure that their brave fighting men and women are given the tools they need to fend off Vladimir Putin’s invasion.”
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