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

Trump Reveals Iran’s Proposal for Talks Amid Escalating Protests and Rising Death Toll

President Donald Trump announced that Iran has reached out to propose negotiations…

Minnesota and Twin Cities Take Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Crackdown: A Fight for Local Autonomy

MINNEAPOLIS – On Monday, Minnesota, along with its two largest cities, took…

Meta Appoints Ex-Trump Adviser Dina Powell McCormick as New President and Vice Chairman

NEW YORK – Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has appointed Dina…

Amid Escalating Protests: Trump Claims Iran Seeks Negotiations as Death Toll Surges

DUBAI – In a surprising turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump…

International Court Examines Genocide Allegations Against Myanmar in Rohingya Case

THE HAGUE – On Monday, Myanmar will be under scrutiny as it…

VIDEO: Handcuffed Woman Surprises Marion County Deputy with Concealed Weapon Discharge

In an alarming turn of events, newly released surveillance video captures the…

Investigation Underway Following Accident Near Windermere High School

WINDERMERE, Fla. – Authorities are currently looking into a collision that took…