EU leaders hope Trump trade truce will hold

0
178

European leaders struck a triumphant tone early Wednesday after the EU finally clinched a deal to implement its long-delayed trade pact with the United States, ending months of tariff threats and transatlantic brinkmanship.

“A deal is a deal, and the EU honours its commitments,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. “Together, we can ensure stable, predictable, balanced, and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade.”

After more than five hours of late-night talks, negotiators from the Parliament, Council and Commission finally reached a compromise on the legislation needed to enact the Turnberry accord agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump last July in Scotland.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called the agreement proof that “Europe is a reliable partner,” stressing that the transatlantic relationship supports 16 million jobs. “Built on mutual respect, it makes us all stronger,” she wrote.

Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič hailed the compromise as a “strong result” in negotiations. And German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the deal “good news from Strasbourg,” saying Europe was delivering “more security and stability for our companies.” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani noted the agreement would provide “economic stability and certainty” for businesses exporting to the U.S.

Some struck a noticeably more cautious tone.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning in Strasbourg, Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, said he “wouldn’t call it a good deal.”

After writing on X that “the original blind flight has been averted,” Lange said that he personally would not have struck the agreement the same way as von der Leyen. Still, he stressed Parliament would “stand by this deal” because the Commission had negotiated it on behalf of the EU.

Lange also pushed back against suggestions Brussels had folded under Trump’s tariff threats. “We have to make clear that this is our duty to protect the European interests,” he said, while acknowledging there were still doubts over whether Washington would ultimately accept every part of the legislation.

The move to implement the deal slowed after Trump threatened to seize Greenland in January, and again earlier this month, when he said he would hike tariffs on European cars to 25 percent. That statement prompted von der Leyen to publicly remind Washington shortly after that “a deal is a deal.”

The pact commits Brussels to lowering tariffs on U.S. industrial and some farm goods, while obliging Washington to keep most tariffs on European exports capped at 15 percent.

The legislation now heads toward a closely watched final vote during the European Parliament’s June 15–18 plenary session.

Like
Love
Wow
28
Search
Categories
Read More
Cars and Vehicles
New cars with the lowest power-to-weight ratios in Australia
Everyone’s obsessed with speed, but not every car is here to give you the thrill of a...
By Liam O'Connell 2026-04-06 13:45:03 0 179
News
Morgan McSweeney ally Matt Pound to leave UK government
LONDON — Senior U.K. government aide Matt Pound will leave his role as an advisor to...
By POLITICO 2026-02-25 17:50:02 0 274
News
Gaza Flotilla Sets Sail Again from Spain After Delay
Dozens of boats carrying activists and symbolic humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza have...
By SIA NEWS 2026-04-15 14:45:02 0 305
News
Top Zelenskyy Ally Arrested in Corruption Case
Ukraine’s anti-corruption court on Thursday ordered the arrest of Andriy Yermak, a close...
By SIA NEWS 2026-05-14 09:55:08 0 131
Beauty
Amorepacific Launches Second Voluntary Retirement Programme Since Founding
THE WHAT? Amorepacific Group has introduced a voluntary retirement programme, marking only the...
By Global Cosmetics 2025-12-17 09:55:01 0 401
Tweetko https://tweetko.com