Trump pushes EU into trade 'deal' that several EU leaders aren't happy about
- Reference: 1753723829
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/07/28/trump_eu_trade_deal/
- Source link:
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, published a brief outline of the new trade deal terms in a [1]press release on Saturday, with the most glaring detail being the new one-way tariff regime that establishes a single 15 percent tariff on EU exports to the US. Those tariffs cover "most sectors," she said, including cars, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.
"This 15% is a clear ceiling. No stacking. All-inclusive," von der Leyen added. "So it gives much-needed clarity for our citizens and businesses."
[2]
Clarity, perhaps, but comfort likely not: Tariff rates on EU exports to the US varied prior to Trump's trade war, but they were still in the [3]single digits before this.
[4]
[5]
French Prime Minister François Bayrou didn't mince words over what he thought of the deal, [6]calling it nothing short of a disaster for Europe.
"It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples, united to affirm their values and defend their interests, resolves to submission," the French PM said in a post on X.
[7]
Beyond accepting a new 15 percent tariff on exports to the US, the EU also offered a number of concessions to Trump that will be a definite boost to the US economy, but a less clear victory for Europe.
Increased energy cooperation will see the EU replace purchases of Russian gas and oil with liquefied natural gas, oil, and nuclear fuels from the United States. The EU will also increase its purchases of leading-edge US AI chips that von der Leyen said "will help power our AI gigafactories and help the US to maintain their technological edge."
Trump has stated that the EU has promised to buy $750 billion worth of energy over three years as part of the deal, a commitment experts have said may be hard for the EU to meet. US energy exports only [8]totaled $330 billion last year, just $80 billion of which went to Europe. The US would have to export $250 billion annually under the deal for the EU to meet those terms.
[9]
One small win for the EU sees it and the US establishing a few "zero-for-zero" tariffs on products including aircraft and their components, "certain chemicals," some generic drugs, semiconductor equipment (chips themselves are subject to the 15 percent tariff), and other items. The EU President said she expects to expand the list over time.
It's entirely unclear, on the other hand, whether tariffs on metals like steel and aluminum will change because of the deal. As of now, the US has a 50 percent tariff on imports of EU steel and aluminum, and von der Leyen mentioned the "common external challenge" of overcapacity of both metals that both the EU and the US face. While she noted that "tariffs will be cut" and "a quota system will be put in place," she didn't say anything concrete about a metals deal.
European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič, in his own [10]statement on the deal, did little to clarify the metals issue.
"The agreement sees clear prospects of joint action on steel, aluminium, copper and their derivatives," Šefčovič said, noting that the deal is "effectively creating a joint ringfence around our respective economies through tariff rate quotas at historic levels with preferential treatment."
The US tariffs on EU steel and aluminum [11]appear to still be in place as of press time.
Trump and von der Leyen's agreement on the deal doesn't mean it's a sure thing, of course. As a matter that affects the entirety of the EU, each of the 27 member states will get to vote to ratify the trade agreement. That might be a hard sell.
[12]Trump administration announces tariffs that may make plenty of tech more expensive from August 1
[13]EU lands 25% counter tariff punch on US, Trump pauses broad import levy hike – China excepted
[14]Tariffs and trade turmoil driving up cost and build times for datacenters
[15]Europe hopes Trump trumps Biden's plan for US to play AI gatekeeper
France, as we've already mentioned, seems ready to resist, as does German EU parliamentarian Bernd Lange, who called the deal unsatisfactory in a [16]post on X.
"This is a lopsided deal. Concessions have clearly been made that are difficult to accept," Lange said in his post. He also called attention to the lack of hard details presented by the pair of leaders.
Lange and Bayrou aren't alone in their criticism, either, and it seems none of the European leaders [17]weighing in on the deal are that happy about it. However, some countries seem quietly resolved to the outcome.
"The trade conditions will not be as good as before, and it is not our choice, but a balance must be found that stabilises the situation and that both sides can live with," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said.
Von der Leyen seemed to capitulate to that interpretation in her statement.
"With this deal, we are creating more predictability for our businesses," von der Leyen said. "And … we are securing access to our largest export market."
The European Commission didn't respond to questions for this story. ®
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[1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_25_1915
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aIfy-RQsUo37S8glt1tI-gAAAMs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/world/europe/eu-trade-deal-trump-tariffs.html
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aIfy-RQsUo37S8glt1tI-gAAAMs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aIfy-RQsUo37S8glt1tI-gAAAMs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://x.com/bayrou/status/1949749114436194782
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aIfy-RQsUo37S8glt1tI-gAAAMs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-28/the-eu-s-monster-energy-deal-with-trump-looks-hard-to-achieve
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aIfy-RQsUo37S8glt1tI-gAAAMs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_25_1919
[11] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/trump-tariffs-live-updates-us-eu-agreement-announced-china-truce-extension-expected-200619379.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALA2AuL2Oq3J8LdVMn7v4q946r5gbwoVrSVee0n2gOnuSI87-uT3h-seS1uLrX5Vz45paZ28aYGm9mO6NIipQD_G8Sm1l40KahgTzUA_00mKgn5b1ldOS4ggiOMAgOAkgt0ffDJlmIbn34FNyAAcJGIAty2-ofP2xsUXwYg_x-C4
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/08/trump_administration_reciprocal_tariffs/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/09/eu_tariffs/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/03/tariffs_and_trade_turmoil_driving/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/14/ec_biden_ai_order_concerns/
[16] https://x.com/berndlange/status/1949556346950426975
[17] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/28/how-european-leaders-are-reacting-to-eu-us-trade-deal
[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
How does Dear Leader deal about the 100% tariffs going to hit all Russian trading partners?
And as for taking Putin's predictions....how's the 10 day "Special operation" going?
There's no stability with Trump...
... he can find any excuse to change any deal into a turmoil - maybe because he don't like the fonts, or Zuckeberg comes with a checque in his mouth and tells he needs badly all those EU citizen data.
Wait a minute
The US pays VAT.
VAT is a kind of tariff.
Re: Wait a minute
It is if you're financially and economically illiterate, yes.
Re: Wait a minute
**I** pay VAT on any good I buy in EU, regardless of its origin - the farm next to me, or something from the other side of the world
US pays no VAT. US citizens exiting the EU can ask a VAT reimbourse, because it's not a tax they have to pay.
VAT is a tax paid by EU citizens and residenfs. - and it's paid only by the final consumer. Sellers gets it from customers on behalf of the state, and have to turn it to the revenue service in separate filings.
Just like US sales tax. Is US sales tax a tariff on EU goods?
VAT and tariffs are two totally different things.
Re: Wait a minute
We all know the details of VAT, GST and Duties are different, but that hardly matters. The end result is that Europeans pay 20% tax on goods coming from the US and Americans pay 15% on goods from the EU. So Europeans should stop moaning.
Re: Wait a minute
Fucking Usasians still can't grasp the concept of VAT
Maybe it's the metric system of taxation for them. Easy for the rest of the world, to difficult for them.
Re: Wait a minute
> VAT is a tax paid by EU citizens and residenfs. - and it's paid only by the final consumer.
It's paid at every stage of the process, that is, each time value is added to a product in the production chain.. Let's call it a "value added tax", or "VAT' for short.
Re: Wait a minute
Should be called VST - value subtracted tax, because technically, you are getting much less bang for your buck.
Let's see what Putin's little b**ch Orban does
He's a nasty piece of work.
Re: Let's see what Putin's little b**ch Orban does
And Fico, who can be described in exactly the same terms.
Re: Let's see what Putin's little b**ch Orban does
The reality up till now is that Central and Eastern Europe depends on gas and nuclear station parts and fuel from Russia. Buying gas from the US is feasible but it requires facilities to receive the liquid gas and expand it, then the pipelines need to be modified to transport the gas in the opposite direction. Maintaining the power stations require commitments from Westinghouse and Siemens and others to produce the parts and fuel. So, it is easy to criticize Orban and Fico if you ignore all that is important, difficult and expensive.
Re: Let's see what Putin's little b**ch Orban does
Increased energy cooperation will see the EU replace purchases of Russian gas and oil with liquefied natural gas, oil, and nuclear fuels from the United States. The EU will also increase its purchases of leading-edge US AI chips that von der Leyen said "will help power our AI gigafactories and help the US to maintain their technological edge."
But will it? I thought EU procurement rules had things like competitive tendering for public sector projects. So if Brussels wants to fund an 'AI gigafactory', can it legally restrict bidders to US components only? Or the big one "the EU has promised to buy $750 billion worth of energy over three years" . I know the EUrocracy is big and bloated, but does the EU itself really burn through $250bn a year in LNG? Or are the EU's buildings leased, under FM contracts or just multi-year utilities contracts with assorted private gas companies who buy gas via the commodity markets or contracts with gas producers?
Ursula might be able to use her mobile phone to buy billions of vaccine doses, but fairly sure she can't do the same with gas purchase.
Also not convinced the US can supply fuel for Russian NPPs. ISTR they took over producing fuel rods for Ukraine's ZNPP but do they actually have capacity to support all the Russian NPPs operated in the EU?
(Oh, and of course UK got a better(?) deal than the EU because Brexit. Cue those thumbs!)
Re: Let's see what Putin's little b**ch Orban does
His usual anti-EU barfing that he thinks make him look good at home (translated):
"The American president is a heavyweight when it comes to negotiations, while Madam Chairperson is a lightweight."
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/spiste-trump-von-der-leyen-til-morgenmad-saadan-er-handelsaftale-modtaget-i#:~:text=Ungarns%20premierminister,en%20letv%c3%a6gter%2E
Laugh
I could hear the echo of Putin laughing here in London.
P-Donny "I will release Epstein files" Trumpet delivers again.
Re: Laugh
Dems seem to have an Epstein fetish - the rest of us don’t care.
Re: Laugh
They need something to distract from the revelation that Hillary Clinton was suffering some serious mental health issues in 2016 and that the whole 'Russia Russia Russia' thing was entirely fabricated to try and win Hillary the election.
The reality is that no-one in the upper levels of the federal govt wants those files to see the light of day.
Re: Laugh
Oh, and.... Benghazi!
You sad brainwashed Muppet.
Re: Don't care
Did you "not care" before or after you were told to not care? That's the *real* question.
Re: Laugh
"Dems want paedophiles punished, maga doesn't care" isn't the hot take you think it is.
Re: Laugh
Dems had four years to prosecute the pedos and did not do it. Why are they all holy now?
Re: Laugh
"Dems want paedophiles punished, maga doesn't care" isn't the hot take you think it is.
Dems sitting on the files for the Biden years and doing nothing isn't the hot take you think it is either. Especially when the Dems had two bites of that cherry, first under Obama, and then Biden. Especially if Trump being in the Epsteiin files is really true. The Dems suddenly now deciding it's in the public interest stinks, but that's typically of the stench emanating from a lot of swamps.
My bet is Maxwell gets a pardon in exchange for a gag order, and the swamp carries on trying to bury this story. Strange the way the only imprisonment has been for sex traffiking when there were apparently no clients other than Epstein.
Re: Laugh
I think libs are just processing the shock that there's no appeal to conservatives on "it is bad to touch kids".
Re: Laugh
It is alarming the number of Dem supporters in the US getting charged with CP and/or CSA.
Re: Laugh
Ok cupcake.
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/former-north-texas-pastor-sentenced-more-24-years-child-exploitation
A baptist preacher in Texas, by ICE, no less.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/pastor-sentenced-10-years-possession-and-receipt-child-sexual-abuse-material
Another red state pastor.
https://apnews.com/article/texas-megachurch-pastor-child-sexual-abuse-charges-f3f51666f4201288786f5162f908f2ea
Another Texas pastor.
https://www.wyff4.com/article/greenville-county-pastor-child-sex-crimes-1749603251/65028613
Another red state pastor.
I'll give you time to wait for the next update to insist actually I'm the bad guy for protecting kids. Fucking sheep.
Politicians
Count on them to never count for you.
Someone from the EU please explain
Is the president of the EU allowed unilateral authority to make agreements like this without getting some other approval? The whole reason Trump is crashing about breaking long time carefully negotiated trade agreements is that he's fraudulently claiming it is all an "emergency" under a law congress passed long ago intended for true emergencies like one of our trading partners starting a war with another.
As Trump demonstrates, it isn't smart for any one person to have the power to mess with tariffs, even if the EU president is more level headed than our orange pedo president.
Brandon Vigliarolo needs to pull his head out of his arse
>> Europe is acting like the victim of a bully
Er, yes. That's because it is. The EU capitulated. There will be more capitulations on the way. Vigliarolo needs to stop seeing the world through American eyes.
Re: Brandon Vigliarolo needs to pull his head out of his arse
The EU had little choice. The EU is busy carefully managing its own demise.
Putin said European politicians had "fought" against Trump and interfered in US domestic politics. He suggested that they were disoriented by Trump's victory, as they had been "mentally more comfortable" with Biden because Trump has "different views on what’s right and what’s wrong".
Quote: "But I assure you, Trump, with his character and his determination, will restore order there pretty quickly. And all of them – mark my words, this will happen soon – will stand at their master’s feet and wag their tails obediently. Everything will fall into place."
Putin in an interview on Feb 2 2025
And so it came to pass and the EU wag their tails obediently.