Trump Strikes Tariff Deal with EU But Gets Mocked for Getting Outmaneuvered
President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a long-anticipated trade deal Sunday that will impose a 15% tariff on European imports, including automobiles avoiding a trade war but drawing sharp criticism at home and abroad.
The European Union also agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and committed to investing $600 billion more in American goods than current levels, Trump claimed. The deal, finalized during a meeting at Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, was framed by both leaders as a landmark achievement.
“I think it’s the biggest deal ever made,” Trump declared.
Von der Leyen echoed the sentiment, calling it “a good deal, a tough deal” and praising it as a stabilizing force between the two economic giants. “We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world,” she said. “It will bring stability, it will be predictability.”
However, the celebratory tone from the Trump camp was met with skepticism and even ridicule from policy analysts and trade experts, who argued that Trump had effectively walked back his own aggressive posture for minimal concessions.
Trump had originally threatened a 30% tariff on EU goods starting August 1 a move that stoked fears of a full-blown transatlantic trade war. Instead, the final deal locks in a much lower 15% rate and maintains access to the U.S. market for key European exports.
Critics from both the business sector and political circles quickly pounced, accusing Trump of being outmaneuvered by the EU. Several trade experts pointed out that the European side secured critical protections for its auto industry while offering investment figures that may be more symbolic than binding.
“The EU got what it wanted: no 30% tariffs and time to maintain trade flows,” said one international trade economist. “The U.S. president is celebrating what amounts to a mild de-escalation and got played in the process.”
Cable news panels and financial commentators joined the pile-on. One analyst on Bloomberg quipped that “Trump brought a bazooka and left with a handshake.” Several noted the irony of Trump claiming victory after caving on his own threat, while headlines across Europe suggested the EU had “held firm.”
Trump attempted to put a confident spin on it, stating ahead of the meeting, “There’s a 50-50 chance we’ll get it done.” After the deal, he doubled down on his strategy: “The Aug. 1 date is there for everyone. The deals all start on Aug. 1.”
This marks the second such trade deal in recent days for Trump, who also finalized a similar arrangement with Japan. That agreement also featured a reduced tariff rate 15% instead of the 25% previously threatened and included promises of $550 billion in Japanese investment and increased access for U.S. agricultural products.
Despite the optics Trump hoped to achieve, experts argue both deals reflect a pattern: tough talk up front followed by softened terms and boastful proclamations of victory proclamations that critics say often don’t hold up under scrutiny.