European leaders have issued a litany of concerns regarding the trade deal finalized between EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the agreement poses a significant threat to Germany’s financial health, while French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou blasted it as "submission" to US interests.
The sentiment across Europe has been predominantly pessimistic, although some leaders acknowledged that reaching a seemingly uneven deal was necessary to avoid escalations into a full trade war. The agreement includes a 15% tariff on most European exports to the US—markedly lower than the original threat of 30%—in exchange for the EU's commitment to import more American energy and reduce certain import taxes.
During a private meeting at Trump's golf resort in Scotland, von der Leyen touted the agreement as a "huge deal", with Trump claiming it would unify the US and EU. However, obtaining consensus from all 27 EU member states may prove challenging, given their varied economic interests in relation to the US.
Despite no immediate indications of resistance to the deal, the reaction among European leaders remains subdued. Merz underscored that both US and European economies could suffer, indicating that the EU negotiators had limited options against a US president so intent on redefining trade alliances.
Bayrou, expressing deep disappointment, remarked on social media, "It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples... resign themselves to submission." Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a Trump ally, stated that the US president "ate von der Leyen for breakfast." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez commented he would support the agreement "without any enthusiasm."
In the lead-up to the agreement, some European leaders had aimed to press Trump with anti-coercion strategies designed to limit US firms' access to EU markets. However, the threat of steep tariffs led to a consensus on a deal that still inflicts economic pain, but less severe than what could have been under Trump's original proposal.
While von der Leyen attempted to frame the deal as a triumph, even prominent figures within her own party deemed it as mere "damage control." The specific terms of the agreement will still undergo further technical discussions, but some leaders expressed a sense of relief.
Finland's Prime Minister remarked that the deal offers "much-needed predictability," and Ireland's Trade Minister Simon Harris noted its essential role in fostering jobs, growth, and investment. Finally, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic defended the agreement's terms, stating it represented the "best deal we could get under very difficult circumstances," adding that maintaining strong ties with the US holds geopolitical significance, particularly amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
