There is overwhelming public dissatisfaction regarding the US-EU trade tariffs, as many Europeans perceive the agreement as a capitulation that undermines their economic sovereignty and stability. Criticism is directed towards EU leaders, especially Ursula von der Leyen, for failing to stand firm against US demands. Commenters advocate for a reassessment of EU trade strategies and an exploration of alternatives to enhance economic independence.

European Union

United States

&gt;This is the largest transaction in the history of our country. These countries are calling us up, kissing my ass. They are dying to make a deal. 'Please, please, sir, make a deal. I'll do anything. I'll do anything, sir.'

Trump, April 2025.

&gt;It's a very powerful deal, it's a very big deal, it's the biggest of all the deals

Trump, today.

So, in 4 months nothing changed, we kissed his ass and we let him humiliate us. Good job!

Naso_di_gatto

“The United States and European Union struck a trade agreement on Sunday locking in a 15 percent tariff, days before Donald Trump’s deadline to do a deal or face tariffs double that level.

Trump, speaking after meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his Turnberry golf club in Scotland, announced the deal to U.S. reporters.

He said the EU will agree to purchase $750 billion of energy and will agree to invest $600 billion more than planned in military equipment and opening countries to trade at zero tariff. 

The tariff rate applying to imports from the EU would be 15 percent, with the same rate applying to cars. Pharmaceuticals will not be covered by the deal.” - Politico

Crossstoney

"15% tariffs, buy 750 billions worth of energy and invest 600 billions in USA, while EU get nothing"

Deal of the century, the people who said EU is just the lapdog of USA were right

D3niel1

This is sickening... Tough words spoken, spineless reaction to a rising autocracy that seems to be getting away with everything so far.
Von der Leyen should resign.

NorthNo6908

So we cannot invest even 500 billion in ourselves but lets give Trump nearly 1.5 trillion? How about invest in Europe and stop taking it up the ass..

TemuBoyfriend

&gt;Trump, reading from a paper, said the EU will agree to purchase $750 billion of energy. It will also agree to invest $600 billion more than planned in the U.S. 

Thus, the extortion was a success. See you in three to four months when the next demand comes up.

They have still not learned a fucking thing about dealing with Trump.

MercantileReptile

Master__of_Orion

It doesn't sound great for the EU but it looks even worse when EU officials were saying the UK deal was bad and they'd get better

They did not

kasvipohjainen

The strongest argument for the EU always was that we'd be one of the biggest economies in the world and could be tough on trade.


All I've seen is EU leaders accept the shifting goalposts 3 times while putting up a massive bootlicking show at the NATO summit. I'll never forget this spineless performance. 


We're paying up for Ukraine, have to increase defence spending by 1,5%, and accepted that all of our exports to the US are now 15% more expensive while they have unfettered market access. It sickens me.

Decimerusi

Dam she folded like a cheap plastic chair

Tunnelman82

So US places 15% tariff on all EU goods and we spend 600 billion on their weapons + all the other things? Doesn't seem we got anything out of this. 

Chinese and Russians are correct when they see EU as Americas vassal state.

EuroFederalist

what is in the deal for us europeans? If I read that correctly the US slaps our export with 15% and we pay them billions in return? Are the completely insane to accept that? Europa nicht der Leyen überlassen...

nontheidealchoise

We knew it was coming, but what the fuck...

How is any of this fair? And what about the digital service tax?

vampyr01

The deal will still need to be approved by all Member States... And thank god because this is *fucking EMBARRASSING*. Everything at 15% while steel and aluminum keep getting tariffed at 50%, and no tariffs on EU products with a promise to buying billions in energy from the US. The article compares it to Japan but with Japan the 15% tariffs are RECIPROCAL.

It seems that this translates to: "screw the EU in the ass as long as you don't tariff pharmaceuticals". Now guess which country in Europe has the biggest pharmaceutical companies?

Queen Ursula indeed. She would do anything to keep in power and secure a nice retirement, heh?

Meinos

Needs to be another vote of no confidence against Ursula. She bent over completely and gave Trump everything he wanted while getting nothing at all in return. How can you be the leader of an ECONOMIC union and fail so bad at negotiations. Get that spineless coward out

witness_smile

Total capitulation, embarrassing, though i don't understand, isn't the EU an economic bloc made also to deal with shit like this and give more leverage? If they can't the EU literally failed in one of its most important objectives

Thunder_Beam

lynxloco

This is a clear win for Trump and definitely a defeat for the EU. I don't see how this continues to stand with members like France. I wonder if this decision will further throw the EU into a cohesion crisis with members no longer seeing a benefit of joint negotiation vs bilateral deal. Like France or Germany might sweet talk Trump into a better deal depending on the day and his mood.

Most_Grocery4388

So the US has a 15% tariff on EU goods while we don't put tarrifs on their goods? Doesn't sound fair. Ursula really doesn't have a spine.

TheBlackestCrow

EU completely folded. This is embarrassing. Trump wins. How can we let this keep happening? Fuck every EU-politician involved in this decision. And it doesn't even include the plans for taxing digital service providers like Google and Meta, wtf.

bickid

&gt;Trump, reading from a paper, said the EU will agree to purchase $750 billion of energy. It will also agree to invest $600 billion more than planned in the U.S., in military equipment and in opening countries to trade at zero tariff.

&gt;The tariff rate applying to imports from the EU would be 15 percent, with the same rate applying to cars. Pharmaceuticals will not be covered by the deal. Trump also said that steel and aluminum would continue to be subject to 50 percent tariffs.

Man, for all that tough talk VdL caved hard. So the US will get something like 1.5 trillion USD in purchases while we still get tariffed at 15%. People here cheering for the Euro's gain should remember that our import into the US will now get even more expensive because currency difference + tariffs = our stuff cost too much.

TheoryOfDevolution

How embarrassing we can’t step up against this buffoon. Shit deal.

Environmental_Gap_65

“The European Union is going to agree to purchase from the United States $750 billion worth of energy,” Trump said. “They are going to agree to invest into the United States $600 billion more than they’re investing already.” + 15% Blanket tariff except steel and medicine.

Not with my money Ursula ! We didn't elected you for that ! 1.35T$ ?! That is the close to the whole amount of EU banknote circulating in the world ! I hope you are going to put flag on every goods in EU so that we know where they come from.

Top-Local-7482

I don't have any more words for these puppets, if i say what i really think i will not only get banned but probably arrested. 15% tariffs on our exports, 0% on theirs, while we fuel their military system buying weapons from them.

Urzuck

It’s amazing how the country that has resisted trumps trade BS the most is the Canadians who are more dependent on the US for their economy than  any other country.

Kronos9898

Defiant_Title_2589

I’m absolutely disgusted and disappointed by the European Union. I thought they were gonna stand on business and deal Trump a hard battle, but instead they back down and hand him a victory. Absolutely disgusting.

Echo9Eight

Absurd deal. Will only fuel the far right nationalism and anti eu talks. Ursula is spineless.

aiart13

The problem is not the tariffs. The problem is we have compromised hige investmentes, energetic and defence policy to accommodate us interests in a clearly deteimental deal for eu interests

Ok-Environment2641

Trump won. Ursula folded like a garden chair. Sad useless woman. Go away! Loooooooooosers.

Hopeful-Ad2639

I hate Trump, but I guess a con man knows how to recognize a sucker. The EU just got reamed.

TheRealKrasnov

The EPP will bring the downfall of the European Union. They are nothing more than spineless neoliberal conservatives who care more about lining the pockets of corporations than the wellbeing of regular people

TheDarkAcademicRO

All the more reasons to not be dependent on one party. What a shame. 

Mrstrawberry209

What a shit deal. Ursula shouldn’t be allowed to negotiate such things anymore, get her out pls.

Gil15

To summarise the deal: PRETTY FUCKED for Europe. European Union countries will need jointly invest no less than $600 billions ( Japan deal is Japan invest $550 billions) at US direction, saying US decide how to invest EU’s fund. Not clear the profit split yet. (Japan deal is Japan only receives 10% of the investment profits, US holds 90% profit). In extra, EU countries will need buy no less than $150 billions US energy/commodities .

GeorgeMichaelFans

Individual_Yard_5636

I am a massive supporter of the EU, but what the fuck is this? Complete capitation? You’re not gonna last very long like this Ursula

aalp234

Mangafan_20

Ursula is possibly the worst European leader in all of history.

pizzaandlasagne

Didnt they keep saying 10%? I see this as a big fail for EU. Theyve bent faster than thai hooker on the day of navy arrival

ILikeYourMommaJokes

This is a surrender.
Trump is very vindictive, and he will do everything he can to make Europe pay as much as possible.
It reminds me of how Rome destroyed Carthage.
Today is a bad day for Europe.
I'm waiting to hear what Macron and Merz have to say.

Any-Original-6113

Next time this sub laughs at Trump, think about how we yet Europeans again foot the bill for the trillionaires over the ocean because we were unable to create our own ecosystem.

Rally_Sport

For all those who keep saying "this was inevitable cause we depend on the USA", guess who we also depend on: China. Yet look at how Von der Leyen treated China.

She flies to Beijing, lectures Xi like he's a naughty student, refuses to offer anything close to mutual concessions, and then acts shocked that relations are cold. 

Meanwhile, with the US, she basically hands over over a trillion euros, accepts 15% tariffs on EU goods, and still calls it a "good deal."

So let me get this straight: when it's the US, we bend over and call it diplomacy. When it's China, a country we also depend on massively for trade and rare earths, we get self-righteous and confrontational?

Let's all stop pretending that this is about economic ties. It's ideological servitude. Von der Leyen isn't protecting European interests. She's burning bridges with one superpower while selling us out to the other.

RichRate6164

Aaaaaand he fucked us too. 

People criticize him, but honestly he got the edge in all of these deals (obviously since the USA is the strongest country right now).

Ynneb82

saltyholty

At least EU has caps attached to the bottles….

Offender1338

As an American I want to think Trump is stupid by the way he talks but its just too hard to grasp how he is able to to continue to take advantage of country leaders who are incredibly intelligent and speak 5 languages when he barely knows english

SubjectBubbly9072

What a lop-sided "deal". An embarrassment.

trollsmurf

oyurirrobert

MustyMustacheMan

Europe capitulated  to Trumps administration bully tactics.

Sharp_Win_7989

VDL is becoming more and more ridiculous. We need to stop being servants of the Americans.

WarrenRedBarr

aamgdp

&gt;The EU also intends to purchase €40 billion worth of AI chips essential to maintaining the EU's technological edge.

Didn't it say "**US** technological edge" in von der Leyen's initial statement? Typo or damage control?

&gt;**Liberalising certain trade that is of mutual interest from the US into the EU.**
&gt;
&gt;[...]
&gt;
&gt;The EU and US will enhance supply chain resilience and address non-market policies and practices.

Less protection against US' more predatory market practices, and dismantling of public utilities and services (*cough* healthcare *cough*).

&gt;**Reducing non-tariff barriers**, including via cooperation on car/automotive standards and SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) measures, and by facilitating mutual recognition of conformity assessments in additional industrial sectors.

Chlorinated chicken when?

&gt;At the same time, it fully **respects the EU's regulatory sovereignty and protects sensitive areas of EU agriculture**, such as beef or poultry.

Oh? Well, good then, but...

&gt;The political agreement of 27 July 2025 is not **legally binding**. Beyond taking the immediate actions committed, the EU and the US will **further negotiate**, in line with their relevant internal procedures, to fully implement the political agreement.

... this absolutely positively reeks of damage control kilometers away. So I don't know how to take that press release. It still immensely looks like vassalisation to me.

McEckett

Basically, political suicide happened for von der leyen and anyone associated with her.

Brief_Mode9386

Between this and the bullshit of the Digital Service act and Chat Control the EU is on big L streak if you ask me. This press release seems like damage control first and statement second. We’ll see what happens, but with Germany and France already so vocal about this I don’t think this will go through in this state

PaperClipSlip

Wtf we don't want there crap food... EU standup for yourself don't bend the knee!!

allanmoller

Darkhoof

Literally every single provision in this deal consists of the EU conceding something to the US. And the most comical part is them framing it to be positive and for mutual benefit. You cannot make this stuff up:

&gt; Promoting and facilitating mutual investments on both sides of the Atlantic.  EU companies have expressed interest in investing at least $600 billion (ca. €550 billion) in various sectors in the US by 2029, further boosting the already significant €2.4 trillion in existing investment.

Mutual investments made entirely by the EU - what an oxymoron.

I am still missing an explanation of why the entire EU completely folded on this. Surely it cannot just be that weak-willed negotiators fell for the oldest trick in the book: Anchoring by starting out with outrageous threats. This isn’t some random buying a used car.

What is the huge leverage that the US has on EU? Are we really that dependent on them for security? In that case I’ll thank Trump from the bottom of my heart for showing it to us, so we can do something about it.

Theskov21

Dracogame

They are trying to explain gunboat diplomacy, unequal treaties and economic and political colonialism to Europeans? Seriously?

ristlincin

It is crazy that the initial expectations of the deal being bad for the EU only gets worse with each tidbit of information released. Now we have truly reached the point of "sanitary and phytosanitary" standards being lowered for US foods in our market.

The current EU needs to go. It cant protect us in this world of sharks. It is a fat Tuna willingly letting itself be eaten. The historic chance to keep "lets go EU" spirit Trumps antics have sparked and develop it into something tangible and they fumble the ball so hard that it is almost comical.

No-Confidence-9191

I’m tired of French wine producers and luxury goods manufacturers as well as the German automakers, machine and medicine manufacturers. We didn’t make the EU just for them.

Greenelypse

&gt; 
The 15% ceiling applies to nearly all EU exports currently subject to *reciprocal* tariffs (except where the US MFN tariff exceeds 15%, in which case only the MFN tariff applies with no additional tariffs on top).

Jesus, there's so little self-respect they don't even put "reciprocal" in quotes here... I had been trying to be supportive, but VdL acts like a wet blanket in this whole thing.

DryCloud9903

This TOTALLY is not a surrender and full acknowledgement of EU as US vassal state.

yezu

Don't let Trump and Putin divide us.... we have to do everything now to become independent from USA and Russia.... and the rest of the world. We have to work for a future, were Europe is stronger and can do everything alone, without the trade/help from the rest of the world.

StrangerConscious637

Disgusting. Trump handed you literal shit on a platter and you go "mm, this is good mr president, very tasty" 

Tehsillz

To everyone saying that the EU was giving $600 billion to the US, all von der Leyen did was "take credit" for what the private sector had already announced. Trump gets a big number, and the EU gives nothing.

&gt;**Promoting and facilitating mutual investments on both sides of the Atlantic.**  EU companies have expressed interest in investing at least $600 billion (ca. €550 billion) in various sectors in the US by 2029, further boosting the already significant €2.4 trillion in existing investment.

Sovereign2142

“The political agreement of 27 July 2025 is not legally binding.” Of course it’s not. It’s not even practical. No one can force EU companies to buy $250 billion worth of fuel from the USA. That would mean they would break contracts with existing suppliers. And the US producers couldn’t supply that amount without breaking contracts with their own customers.

Everyone has learnt how to deal with Trump: pat him on the head, tell him he’s a tough negotiator and promise him an icecream cream. He gives an interview to the  press and then immediately forgets what he has just said. He also forgets about the icecream. When it doesn’t arrive no one will have the guts to tell him. In the meantime everyone is negotiating trade agreements with each other to exclude the USA…

leginfr

Not legally binding. The only immediate action is the US side raising tariffs to 15%. Short-term win for the car industry since they get a 10% tariff cut.

Good chance this deal never becomes law. I’d still have preferred counter-tariffs over this delaying tactic. This is not a long-term (&gt;1-2 years) solution.

Akteuiv

Everyone in europe got fucked except for Germany that went from 27.5% taxes on car to 15%


Man i wonder where von der leyen come from 🤔

FrancisCabrou

In short, EU got fuked like a little bureaucratic bitch by Trump.

old-bot-ng

~~Did ANYONE~~ Very few in this comment section actually read the article. Most of what I see are the same alarmist, pitchfork waving, mouth foaming outraged comments as in any other click-baity article on this "deal". Here it is actually clearly stated what is and what isn't part of the deal. What is still to negotiate and what is better than before. But facts bring almost no change for the outrage ejaculators.

this_toe_shall_pass

How did Ursula von der Leyen give up such a position of strength? If just a handful of months ago you had shown me the EU and UK deals and told me which one was which, I’d have called you insane. 

GuyLookingForPorn

Just make sure that display it with big letters that the meat and fish is raised/slaughtered using US standards, that will hopefully keep people away

GrowingHeadache

The deal is bad. Everything that isn't binding just gives Trump more leverage to complain about Europeans screwing him over, not holding up our side of the bargin and his imbalance nonsense. It's all just to make us weaker.

From countries outside the U.S. and Europe. I don't really understand these treaties. Compared to tariffs, I think the more important aspects are the 600 billion in investments and 750 billion in energy purchases. Massive funds flowing into the U.S. will increase employment and boost industry and high-tech development. But with all the money going to the U.S., where will the funds for Europe's future development come from? This is a robbery of Europe's future.

Distinct-Painter-567

People involved in negotiating this deal should be tried for treason, fucking corrupt corporate bootlickers and traitors.

MatthewP0lska

Rhetorically, Europe looks weak but holy shit what is this doomerism and self-loathing I am seeing. No one signed shit, this framework isn't legally binding.Trump, for some reason, can singlehandedly impose tariffs and we got 15% instead of 30%, however Ursula can't unilaterally accept a deal. Further negotiations and voting will take place and we're looking at ratifying the deal a year from now at the earliest.

WhoFuckinCaresBruv

Here's the explanation: the deal is worthless. It cannot be enforced on EU countries by those that signed it. Also it is effectively impossible to fulfil in parts even if all parties would agree to go along with it. The deal will fail, Trump will cry about it and slap a 50% tariff on EU but then suspends it for 90 days and around and around we go until mango mussolini kicks the bucket.

djquu

On a side note, EU has no power to force private sector to make investment and, at the same time, no means of doing it by itself. 


Same for the buying it energies number - US exports 25 bill dollars worth of oil and gas per year, so EU saying it will start buying 10 times more of than the current export capacity is simply nonsense.


These numbers have absolutely no meaning. They are just there to let Trump announce a big win.

Eastern-Bro9173

Is it really as bad as everyone thinks? 

Trump is a lot of large words and numbers, and if we need to frame a win as a big loss, i think this is a smart move on behalf of Europa. 

Tariffs of 15 % is bad, but all the other points is basically just words, nothing new. At this time with war in Europe, we need the US and are in a bad position to negotiate. 

We need to remember that US is not the great partner as they once was, but until we can stand on our own do we need the US.

NORmannen10

So tired of anti-EU dick riding. Even people quoting from the statement provide no explanation as to why a certain element of the deal is bad, it just reads "check this out, cringe amirite?"

This is an ongoing negotiation and this ""deal"" got forced through to buy more time. Trump wants a win to wave around, the EU wants some degree of certainty for their industry exporters/importers. Having this is, believe it or not, better than having a fucking White House lunatic changing his mind on the daily about what kind of tariffs to place on all of Europe.

It is damage control in a time and place where the US is entirely erratic and Europe is NOT able to fend for itself. And like it or not, you cannot turn an entire continent's policy and readiness around in 6 months after spending multiple decades on structures and assumptions about having a crazy but reliable ally in the US. The entire current premise is also dominated by the situation with Russia and the threat of armed conflict spreading.

Every single person who've never experienced war - trade or otherwise - calling for it or welcoming actions that bring us closer to it, just out of spite or principle, can fuck right off. Travel to the Ukrainian frontline and do some good.

puppyaddict

Well on the bright side, before the EU starts doing something about the trade deal (as per usual business in the long bureaucratic corridors of EU) every one in the US will be tired of waiting and will start this game again, maybe then the commission don’t fold so easily.

laruibasar

15% on EU imports to the US and 0% tarried on US imports to the EU. Everything else is performative until Trump feels like he has been slighted. Then we are back to 30% tariffs. The EU needs to comply just enough so this doesn’t happen. The 15% tariff will like persist to future presidents. This is the best deal a weak EU could have hoped for.

repeatoffender123456

Is the EU economically this weak? A 450 million people, 18 trillion euro economy has no negotiation power against the U.S.?

-Knul-

Time to fully vote with our pockets, time and values. 

Purchase no American products, support no American businesses, reduce use of American services and support EU. 

Switch services for cloud, social media, msging, email etc to EU, encourage work places to EU products, eat EU food and watch European media. 

We’ve grown tired of the US and their obscure values pushing and bullying the world..

woodworkworm

I think the point is, it’s pretty much business as usual, except the EU will loose it’s poorer customer who are more price sensitive and the EU has the opportunity to by American goods if they aren’t turned off of them by now. The Americans in EU will find it nice to get their stuff cheaper than back home, I imagine. 
Funny, I see American fruits and vegetables here in Canada and prefer to seek out local products as they could use my cash, and if I have to drive a bit, well it’s kinda like learning a better place to buy Canadian goods. It will take me a while and I miss out on some things but. It’s better for my country. Europeans, might consider it too.

Ok_Photo_865

Why didn't Ursula just put a clause in the agreement that the EU accepts the 15% straight up with the only caveat being that Trump releases the Epstein files? He clearly doesn't want to do it, but if he refuses, it'll be a political shitstorm in the US for him so the only good course of action would be to agree to a fair trade deal with 0% tariffs.

Purg1ngF1r3

dentastic

EUR/USD rate is so strong now that it’s actually more like a 25% extra cost on european products

I can’t believe Britain got a better deal on their own

If it goes through that spells the end of the union

Strange-Can-3431

Every single country that the convicted felon and sex offender thinks that he has a trade agreement with has done the same thing: pretend there is an agreement and let him think that he’s won. There is never anything signed: China, Japan, the UK and now the EU. In the meantime they negotiate real trade agreements with others. 

I never thought that that tactic would still work because it’s so obvious. But when I see the comments here I realise that half the people are more stupid that the median …

The EU is so weak, it’s sad to see. We got bullied and didn’t even try to fight back

Top_Pear128

Watch all the anti-EU haters take this opportunity to show us how the EU is “so weak”. 

This is exactly how you treat a child: let them think they won while you **act** like an adult. This has played out perfectly.

**Nothing on this so-called deal is legally binding.**

There is no point in wasting time "negotiating" with a pedophile jackass. Let him and his legion of little dick suckers think they won.

funggitivitti

We really getting their trash food standards ?

Trender07

VDL needs to go. Such an incompetent person and a sell-out cannot be at the helm of EU

Not long ago this would feel like russia disinfo. Guess they don't even need to try, giving how fucking fast EU folded while claiming sovereignty. Betting it all on the cardiac arrest of the orange slime ball, good fucking god, EU.

Jazzlike_Mix_1188

[deleted]

The problem is countering the Trump US Government would still risk alienating the transatlantic partner and effectively helping the Russian-Chinese alliance in their bid to defame Democracy, Christianity and the West as a whole. What happens across the atlantic is a family matter - and what happens between us and them is another thing that enshrines our superiority won by the achievements between 1492 and 1990.

AppropriateStory7442

Recent developments in US-EU trade relations have been marked by President Trump's new tariffs set to take effect on August 7, 2025, affecting a wide range of goods.

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