During a meeting held on Sunday (27) in Scotland, US President Donald Trump announced a new trade agreement with the European Union. Instead of the 30% initially planned, a 15% rate will be applied to European Bloc exports to the US.
The meeting was held with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. According to Trump, the pact includes a $ 600 billion European investment in the United States – with $ 150 billion for the energy sector and another significant portion aimed at the defense area.
“This is the largest commercial agreement ever closed between us,” Trump said, noting that the European market will remain strategic, but will require reciprocity in exchanges.
The US president also stressed that, in case of formalization of the pact, the tariffs will no longer be a point of friction between the parties. He also indicated that medications should be excluded from the list of charged products. “If there is, this will be the end of the discussion about tariffs with the European Union,” he said.
Asked by journalists, after the meeting, if the 15% could be reduced, Trump replied, “If you better mean smaller, then no.” The Republican also classified the European bloc as a “very closed market”, especially in relation to US automobiles and agricultural products.
Von der Leyen: “Trump is a hard negotiator”
According to France Presse, annual trade between the United States and the European Union moves about $ 1.9 trillion in goods and services. The agreement, if confirmed, will still need to be approved by the 27 Member States of the Block, whose representatives should meet later this Sunday.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, praised the firm posture of the US president: “Trump is a hard negotiator, but if we come to an understanding, it will be the biggest agreement ever reached on both sides.”
Trump also signaled advances with other partners. According to the president, the US is close to closing an agreement with China and began conversations with Cambodia and Thailand to discuss tariff terms.
