US, EU strike trade deal for 15 percent tariffs
Share and Follow


(The Hill) — President Donald Trump and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade deal on Sunday, setting tariffs at 15 percent for European goods, including automobiles.

The European Union will purchase $750 billion worth of energy from the U.S. as part of the deal, Trump announced, and agreed to invest in the U.S. $600 billion more than the current investments for other goods.

The agreement is lower than the 30 percent tariff Trump had threatened to impose on the EU, which would have begun on Aug. 1, and avoids a trade war with the U.S.’s largest trading partner.

Trump and von der Leyen both touted the enormity of the deal they had agreed to during a meeting at the president’s golf course in Turnberry, Scotland.

“I think it’s the biggest deal ever made,” Trump said.

“We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world. It’s a big deal, it’s a huge deal, it will bring stability, it will be predictability,” von der Leyen said. “It’s a good deal, it’s a tough deal.”

When asked about concessions the U.S. made to reach the deal, von der Leyen acknowledged that there was an unbalanced trade relationship previously between the EU and the U.S., resulting in a deficit for the U.S.

“We wanted to rebalance the trade relation and we wanted to do it in a way that trade goes on between the two of us across the Atlantic,” she said.

Trump went into the meeting with von der Leyen saying he thought there was a 50-50 chance the two leaders could strike a deal on Sunday.

“You’re known as a tough dealmaker and negotiator,” von der Leyen said before the meeting.

“And fair,” Trump responded.

“This is really the biggest trading partnership in the world so we should give it a shot,” Trump said.

Trump similarly reached a deal with Japan on trade earlier this week, which would set a 15 percent tariff on Japanese goods. That is lower than the 25 percent tariff Trump had threatened to impose on Japan beginning Aug. 1.

Also in that deal, Trump said that Japan would invest $550 billion in projects in the U.S. and would open its markets to U.S. automobiles, rice and other agricultural products.

The president on Sunday doubled down on tariffs starting on Aug. 1, telling reporters, “The August 1 is there for everyone. The deals all start on August 1.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Beloved Song Satirist and Mathematician Tom Lehrer Passes Away at 97

LOS ANGELES – Tom Lehrer, the popular and erudite song satirist who…

Louisiana Couple Arrested in Hawkins County on Child Sex Charges

HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Louisiana pair wanted on various child…

Passengers Evacuate Plane via Emergency Slide Due to Suspected Landing Gear Issue at Denver Airport

DENVER – Passengers slid down an emergency slide of a smoking jet…

Trump Enjoys Golfing in Scotland Amid Protests Against His Visit

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — President Donald Trump played golf Saturday at his…

Israel Once More Stops Ship Headed to Gaza With Activists and Humanitarian Supplies

TEL AVIV – The Israeli military has intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship…

Guide to Safely Sharing the Road with Motorcycles

SAVANNAH, Ga. () — When you’re driving near motorcyclists, a little extra…

Urbana Firefighters Engage in Firefighting Training Exercises

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Urbana firefighters battled the heat to participate in…

NIH Budget Reductions Highlight Challenges for Patients Relying on Experimental Brain Implants

Carol Seeger finally escaped her debilitating depression with an experimental treatment that…