EU stands firm on Trump trade deal amid backlash
EU and Trump Reach Trade Accord After Tight Deadline
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen secured a framework agreement with United States President Donald Trump Sunday, following a rushed visit to Scotland amid looming trade levies that could cripple the bloc’s economy.
Key Deal Details
- EU exports now face a 15‑percent tariff, lower than the 30‑percent rate Trump threatened.
- Deal includes $750 billion in U.S. energy purchases and $600 billion in additional investments, though binding status remains uncertain.
- EU claims it avoided steep tariffs on critical exports such as cars and medicines.
Reactions Across Europe
- France: Prime Minister François Bayrou called the accord a “dark day” and a “submission” to U.S. pressure.
- Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the deal as a “necessary avoidance of escalation” but industry bodies criticized the 15‑percent tariff as burdensome.
- Hungary: Prime Minister Viktor Orban dismissed the agreement, suggesting Trump “ate Ursula von der Leyen for breakfast.”
Strategic Context
Brussels emphasized stability and a “political victory for Trump,” warning that a no‑deal scenario would risk up to five million European jobs and jeopardize cooperation on Ukraine and broader security.
Experts describe the agreement as “clearly an imbalanced deal” from a purely trade perspective, yet argue that a trade war could have resulted in worse national security outcomes.
EU’s Negotiation Strategy
- The bloc increased pressure in the final talks, offering a $109‑billion counter‑tariff package.
- France pushed for a stronger response, including the anti‑coercion “bazooka” trade instrument.
- Brussels framed retaliation as a last resort, a stance critics say came too late to change the outcome.
Overall, the EU presidential team presented this settlement as the best achievable under difficult circumstances, balancing immediate economic protection against long‑term security and diplomatic integrity.
