EU Leaders Express Grave Concerns Over New US Trade Deal
EU Leaders Express Grave Concerns Over New US Trade Deal
A recently forged trade agreement between the European Union and the United States has been met with significant apprehension from Europe’s most influential economies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou have led a chorus of critical reactions following the deal struck by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump.
Chancellor Merz warned the accord would “substantially damage” Germany’s financial stability, while Prime Minister Bayrou described it as an act of “submission.” Despite widespread downbeat sentiment across the bloc, some capitals conceded that accepting an uneven deal was preferable to an all-out trade war. The agreement reportedly imposes a 15% tariff on most EU exports to the US – half the rate previously threatened by Trump – in exchange for increased European purchases of American energy and reduced taxes on certain US imports.
Following private discussions at Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland, von der Leyen hailed the agreement as a “huge deal,” with Trump asserting it would foster closer ties between the US and EU. The deal now requires ratification from all 27 EU member states, each with distinct economic interests and dependencies on US exports. While no member state has indicated an intent to block its implementation, celebrations among European leaders have been notably absent. Merz acknowledged that Brussels’ negotiating team likely achieved the best possible outcome against a US president determined to rebalance international trade relationships, despite the potential negative impacts on both economies. Bayrou’s critique was particularly scathing, stating on X: “It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples, brought together to affirm their common values and to defend their common interests, resigns itself to submission.”
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