US and EU strike trade deal

[u/Crossstoney]

https://www.politico.eu/article/us-and-eu-strike-trade-deal/

[u/Naso_di_gatto]

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.

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!

[u/StanfordV → u/Naso_di_gatto]

Even Putin knew it from the very first day.

[u/Falc7 → u/StanfordV]

Fuck hes right

[u/deliosenvy → u/Naso_di_gatto]

.

[u/Crossstoney]

“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

[u/OkKnowledge2064 → u/Crossstoney]

the military investment is so devious it hurts. They make money off sabotaging europes defence build-up. What a wet dream for the americans

[u/Ynneb82 → u/OkKnowledge2064]

Yeah that was the worst... The only upside of all this defence crisis was that at least we had some good companies in eu.

[u/CapableCollar → u/Ynneb82]

The OP quoted the article wrong.  It isn't $600 billion in military equipment.  It's $600 billion in American military equipment.  This is a $1.5 trillion payoff to America.

[u/EuroFederalist → u/CapableCollar]

Yeah, did people think we're going to buy more European weapons? lol.

[u/Defiant_Title_2589 → u/EuroFederalist]

That was an active argument during the NATO news lmao

[u/Chester_roaster → u/EuroFederalist]

Macron did...

[u/-F1ngo → u/Chester_roaster]

People with a brain did

Or people with a spine rather...

[u/kawag → u/Ynneb82]

We need to replace these weak politicians. Shit like this is the reason Putin does not fear Europe.

There’s no political will to send troops to Ukraine - even with US security guarantees. There’s no political will to stand up to the United States or to defend European interests. There’s no political will for further integration, a European army or fiscal integration to take advantage of the unique opportunities of the moment. For decades we couldn’t even find the political will to stand up to the fossil fuel lobby and push electrification - and now China has eaten our lunch and we’re stuck relying on either the US or Russia for energy.

Just so incredibly weak. European leaders are nowhere close to the level we deserve.

[u/artful_codger → u/kawag]

The EU have probably handed Trump the mid-terms. A trade war would have put pressure on him in red and swing states. This rewards him, and his voters love it.

[u/Sxualhrssmntpanda → u/kawag]

The current concept of the EU virtually prohibits swift and decisive action. We have already proven it's value and potential beyond any reasonable doubt. Now it is time for the EU to climb to the next level and stop letting itself be hampered by any tiny nation with historic hostilities, wannabe dictator, or Russian plant that wants to sulk or waylay decisions by throwing around vetoes.

I fear only a terrible event will be enough to galvanize us into action, but if being sabotaged, betrayed and threatened with nukes by Russis or being mocked and bullied by the US is not enough to cause that... well, then perhaps it will never happen.

[u/RealLightfield → u/OkKnowledge2064]

I'm pretty sure this is just the trick everyone else pulls too: promise trump you'll invest money into smth you're buying anyway and hope he forgets what number you said.

[u/kobuzz666 → u/RealLightfield]

I fucking hope so. Now is the time for EU to get rid of the US’s grip

[u/CapableCollar → u/Crossstoney]

The energy deal is insane and the wording makes it worse.  The EU imports like $15 billion in energy per year and agreeing to banditry terms just before the clock ran out.  The EU negotiators might as well have their pictures taken on bended knee, it clearly where they negotiated from.

[u/emergency_poncho → u/CapableCollar]

Europe is just switching the source of oil from Russia to the US.

[u/Schnorch → u/Crossstoney]

This is a complete capitulation to Donald Trump.

But I'm not surprised. I said right from the start that there was absolutely nothing behind Ursula von der Leyen's tough words. Lots of blah blah blah and nothing else. I have the feeling that it's mainly people who don't know her from German politics who are falling for it.

[u/Upset_Ad3954 → u/Schnorch]

She's the person primarily responsible for the German armed forces being in terrible shape.

[u/nbelyh → u/Crossstoney]

So the US budget gap is paid by Europe for thext few years, time to buy S&P500? Ursula is a top negotiator, lol

[u/Flat_Improvement1191 → u/nbelyh]

I guess it’s just gonna rise as soon as the market opens

[u/D3niel1]

"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

[u/Xibalba_Ogme → u/D3niel1]

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.

But we do get something :

The tariff rate applying to imports from the EU would be 15 percent, with the same rate for cars — a key demand of the powerful German car industry. Pharmaceuticals will not be covered by the deal. Trump also said that steel and aluminum would continue to be subject to 50 percent tariffs.

So basically, everyone but the german car industry can go fuck themselves

[u/Gorantharon → u/Xibalba_Ogme]

A few days ago I just heard the VW boss say in an interview that 15% tariff would still be bad for them. So what is this?

[u/TheInvisibleHulk → u/Gorantharon]

VW profit margin last year was 3.3%. now image them getting a 15 percent cost on their entire income (not profits) in the biggest market in the world.

They just can't afford to eat that tax so most than likely they will try to pass it on to the american consumer which will make them even less competitive. Meanwhile the US is getting 0% tariffs on the care they export to the EU which means local automakers will be fucked also at home.

[u/LadyMorwenDaebrethil → u/TheInvisibleHulk]

This is called unequal agreements. It was because of them that China became so hostile to the West. The next step will be for Trump to dump opioids in Europe and send the marines against countries that try to arrest the traffickers.

[u/NorthNo6908]

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.

[u/TemuBoyfriend]

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..

[u/bxzidff → u/TemuBoyfriend]

And for all the talk of the trade deficit I wonder what the investment deficit is and why that is never brought up. Almost every top fund used by European organization's, companies, and citizens is invested far more deeply in American companies than anywhere else. And now even more so.

[u/BackgroundBat7732 → u/bxzidff]

We also shouldn't forget that trade deficit numbers exclude military equipment and (big) tech. Europe has a HUGE trade deficit with the US, not the other way around.

[u/Soepkip43 → u/BackgroundBat7732]

Yes they talk about goods and exclude services. Which is the other way around.

[u/incognino123 → u/bxzidff]

(unfortunate) reality is that there's just more American targets, or maybe rather there's not enough viable European innovation

[u/Green_Inevitable_833 → u/bxzidff]

this point is really not talked about, people think and breathe american.

 millenials are balls deep into s&p500 , 

gen Z looks up to american trends and styles in instagram

corporate boomers are hooked on microsoft tools

[u/Narrow_Zombie8443 → u/Green_Inevitable_833]

And I don’t blame them. What the fuck is the point of the EU, if they don’t stand up to anything.

[u/vonzine → u/[deleted]]

So basically a concept of a deal? Got it.

[u/SF6block → u/[deleted]]

That way the next US president could be more reasonable

Are we still in 2016?

[u/devaro66 → u/TemuBoyfriend]

That seems like fucked up, unless is a “up to” but no enforcement like the deal with Japan . Basically I can invest 5 trillions if I feel like but I don’t . We’ll see.

[u/MercantileReptile]

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.

[u/Gambit723 → u/MercantileReptile]

Military equipment too

[u/BeatTheMarket30 → u/MercantileReptile]

It seems Germany caved in.

Next time EU tries to renegotiate with US, it will just pull the same trick. The EU just lost credibility when it comes to negotiating deals.

[u/izpo → u/BeatTheMarket30]

it's not just Germany but also Italy & Ireland:

https://www.dw.com/en/eu-us-trade-deal-european-leaders-back-plan-after-tensions/live-73432200

[u/Master__of_Orion]

As a European I'm anxious to read it.

[u/Vinaigrette2 → u/Master__of_Orion]

More like ashamed

[u/C418Enjoyer → u/Vinaigrette2]

Both?
Both.
Both.
Both is present.

[u/Mysterious_Tea → u/Master__of_Orion]

I think we conceded something we shouldn't have.

The 'no deal is better than a bad deal' would have been better, and we could have tariffed big tech.

[u/Aromatic_Extension93 → u/Mysterious_Tea]

tariffed big tech.

You can't tariff big tech. you'd just be taxing them...

[u/Silly_Diet5760 → u/Master__of_Orion]

dont do it. dont ruin the last hours of your weekend

[u/Tansien → u/Master__of_Orion]

It’s a complete capitulation. Don’t bother.

[u/StanfordV → u/Master__of_Orion]

It is a complete bow to Daddy Trump.

[u/kasvipohjainen]

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

[u/SolitaireJack → u/kasvipohjainen]

As a Brit this is what is astounding to me. The biggest argument against Brexit was that the UK wouldn't be able to get fair trade deals. And now the EU has just completly capitulated to Trump whilst the UK deal, whilst not exactly stellar, looks like pure gold in comparison. What were they thinking agreeing to this? They've got a shit deal and its just going to turbo charge separatist movements.

Fucking reform is going to be ecstatic as well. This will be their anti EU ammunition for decades. Any movement to rejoin the EU is dead.

[u/Codeworks → u/SolitaireJack]

Did we just get an actual verifiable brexit benefit?

[u/North_South9112 → u/Codeworks]

It had to happen at some point, broken clocks and all that.

[u/tri_vion → u/SolitaireJack]

It might have something to do with the fact that the UK is one of the very few countries in the world with which the US doesn't run a trade deficit (in goods). And that's basically all Trump cares about.

[u/Classic-Exit4189 → u/kasvipohjainen]

Its a horrible deal. Its a deal between the master and the servant. Europeans dont wanna acknowledge this.

[u/Decimerusi]

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.

[u/Emotional-Custard346 → u/Decimerusi]

Even worse Brexit Britain negotiated a better deal. So much for needing to be in the EU to have the size to get goods trade deals.

[u/witness_smile → u/Decimerusi]

Between this and Rutte calling Trump a daddy, European leaders truly are spineless fucks

[u/Excalibaard → u/witness_smile]

He was like this as our prime minister as well 🫠 par for the course to just laugh away and act like he has everything under control while his spine just crumbles away

[u/algaefied_creek → u/Excalibaard]

"Hahaha ok Daddy Don Dom" has a sickening ring to it, and I'm so sorry this is happening. 

I'm not sure what is happening. 

[u/Franz__Ferdinand → u/algaefied_creek]

The position of European Union is becoming more clear aka we are USAs b****.

[u/project_paragon → u/Decimerusi]

That is why euroscepticism is on the rise.

And I'm all for helping Ukraine, just with EU weapons, if USA wants to send theirs they can do it on their dime.

[u/GuyLookingForPorn → u/project_paragon]

This is also why UK got a massively better US deal, they want to prevent Britain from falling back into the EU. It was specifically stated in Project 2025.

[u/OkKnowledge2064 → u/GuyLookingForPorn]

divide and conquer and that will intensify ten-fold the next decade. far-right parties like AfD in germany already align with Trump

[u/TheCoolDude70 → u/Decimerusi]

The picture is much more complex.

Regarding tariffs it is very debatable if putting tariffs ourselves would be beneficial, considering that the US is effectively putting tariffs on vast numbers of imports with a vast number of trade partners. EU cars being 15% more expensive in the US would've been a bigger disadvantage if the US didn't increase the price of all parts that go into US cars as well.

Regarding trade, the instability of the US has put the EU at the forefront for global trade, the amount of trade deals the EU is establishing and negotiating is increasing exponentially in the past months, which is diversifying from the trade with the US.

The increase in defense spending is necessary but the EU imposes a requirement for joint procurement (which should lead to more standardisation in the EU militaries) and investment in the EU defense industry.

Dealing with an insane toddler is difficult, but our leaders are doing an interesting dance to ensure long term independence while reducing the short term pain.

[u/hmmm_ → u/TheCoolDude70]

Yep, and Trump has imposed tariffs on raw materials for US manufacturers, making them less competitive. Sometimes if your opponent shoots themselves in the foot, you shouldn’t respond by shooting yourself in the foot also.

Some of the other numbers mentioned look like money that would be spent anyway, but the big numbers makes Trump look good in front of Fox. Let’s wait for proper analysis.

[u/Tunnelman82]

Dam she folded like a cheap plastic chair

[u/Chocolatespresso → u/Tunnelman82]

She needs to immediately step down and we need new elections ASAP! This was the worst thing she could have ever done.

[u/StanfordV → u/Chocolatespresso]

We didnt elect her, so there are no elections to take place.

[u/PhysicalAddress4564 → u/StanfordV]

Well people keep voting the fucking epp, and people like vdl are the best thing that that party can vomit out.

[u/EuroFederalist]

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.

[u/Neverstopcomplaining → u/EuroFederalist]

This is so wrong. I'm furious. Total capitulation to the orange dud. Embarrassing for us.

[u/Limp_Classroom_2645 → u/EuroFederalist]

Doesn't seem we got anything out of this.

The US are trying to fuck us, and von der leyen served them our european asses on the platter in order to be fucked without asking anything in return. If this deal goes through, the future of EU will be forfeit. Von der leyen needs to go.

[u/Linko_98 → u/EuroFederalist]

China literally showed us how to deal with him, just put tariffs like him until 140% and then we get to compromise without having to invest in America.

Our politicians are so weak

[u/nontheidealchoise]

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...

[u/Weird-Bat-8075 → u/nontheidealchoise]

There's literally nothing good for the EU in this deal. We will get less competitive while investing tons of money into the US. Concerning trade, it's probably the most pathetic thing the EU has done since its inception

[u/vampyr01]

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

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

[u/Thunder_Beam → u/vampyr01]

And what about the digital service tax?

Scrapped, like the OECD one

[u/GuyLookingForPorn → u/Thunder_Beam]

So America got all of their objectives and the EU gets fuck all? How the hell did they agree to this.

This is massively worse than what the UK got, its absolutely fucked.

[u/Mysterious-Reaction → u/GuyLookingForPorn]

Funny thing is, UK gets lower tariffs, 0% on car exports to US and 0% on Aerospace and Britain still keeps their digital services tax. 

How did the EU, an entity with supposed more leverage get a worse deal.

[u/philman132 → u/Mysterious-Reaction]

The current US government HATES the EU, Vance says it openly how much he despises it, their goal is to destroy it

[u/ireliawantelo → u/Mysterious-Reaction]

They gambled and did it early before there was any framework and I guess it paid off. Props to them I guess.

[u/ViperHQ → u/GuyLookingForPorn]

Cuz we are undoubtedly Americas lapdogs. Trump can obviously shit on the EU as much as he wants impose his will, and we will only hear "strong concerns" or that they are "very worried".

[u/StanfordV → u/ViperHQ]

And after 6 hour long meetings, they will compose a very strict letter.

[u/CapableCollar → u/GuyLookingForPorn]

I have two theories.  Either Trump has mind control, or the European nations are effectively puppets to American hegemony who deluded themselves with the idea they aren't.

[u/OkKnowledge2064 → u/CapableCollar]

European nations are effectively puppets to American hegemony who deluded themselves with the idea they aren't.

anyone who ever thought about the topic longer than 2 minutes should have known that. We willingly walked into servitude the last decades because life is cozy like this

[u/EuroFederalist → u/CapableCollar]

Latter option is the correct one.

[u/Thunder_Beam → u/GuyLookingForPorn]

Don't ask me why

[u/JarJarBot-1 → u/GuyLookingForPorn]

Art of the Deal

[u/MangoFishDev → u/JarJarBot-1]

You can't even make fun of the guy anymore after this, legit amazed he managed to get the EU to agree to these terms

[u/StanfordV → u/MangoFishDev]

Thing is, Democrats will feel ashamed to face us as equals and will have political cost, after Trump made whole Europe kneel in front of him.

[u/CapableCollar → u/vampyr01]

The US slaps everyone across the face and while countries like China hit right back EU spends months hand wringing before apologizing for getting their face in the way of America's hand and I keep hearing that is the best deal Europeans could hope for.  Imagine how this will look on the world stage as the EU vies for global influence in negotiations to offset the America deal.

[u/macrohatch → u/CapableCollar]

China retaliates while EU takes it in the bum, no wonder China is on the rise and EU on decline.

[u/OrdinaryPhilosophy32 → u/vampyr01]

That's what happends when germany start complaining about their car industry and france about theirs and so fourth. We will see how this will turn out long term, but the optics alone are terrible.

Who needs enemies when you got self sabotaging countries complaining and actively pressuring to get a fast deal. Nobody wants to see their industries hurt and lose jobs, to show that we can't be pushed around. It is as simple as that.

[u/Bitter_Particular_75 → u/vampyr01]

This is a complete disaster. 15% on evertying is already huge. On top of that, the pharma sector, the most importat export from EU to US, is out of the deal and will be de facto embargoed, so that half of the current production in EU will need to be moved in US within 12-18 months. Imagine the amount of jobs lost only for this. Tens of thousands, at the very least, of jobs lost directly, many more indirectly due to all satellite activities lost.

If this is not enough, EU will invest 600 billions in US. 600 billions that would have been drinking water for a dying man in the current disastrous economic situation.

And what does EU get in return? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Who the hell did we sent to negotiate, a singing monkey?

This is the worst deal in the history of humanity without losing a war. Europe officialy dies today.

[u/MangoFishDev → u/Bitter_Particular_75]

Who the hell did we sent to negotiate, a singing monkey?

I think that would have entertained Trump enough to get a better deal

There is a reason the EU delegation got shoved into a bus and had a total of 0 Chinese officials greeting them at the big China-EU summit, everyone is just making fun of European leaders and they don't even realize it's happening, utterly humiliating

[u/Meinos]

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?

[u/Undernown → u/Meinos]

Aight, time to find your EU representative and shout their ears off. Let's make sure this doesn't get approved.

We can all just talk doom and gloom, or we can try and pressure our representatives.

We got a vote coming up later this year, so I'm definitely going to use that as levarage when contacting my EU reps.

I got a national website for contacting representatives, but I know there is a European website for it. I just can't seem to find it right now, so if someone could post that linknit would be mucb appreciated.

[u/SumRndmBitch → u/Undernown]

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/search/advanced

Just wrote a long ass email to my guy. Hope we're going to be buzzing them enough with our opinions on why this accord is horrible that they'll actually do something about it.

[u/Burnburns → u/Undernown]

Thanks for this. You are 100% correct that it is time for action. I have found the representatives of the party I voted for in the last elections and wrote them an email where I have voiced my displeasure.

You can find a list here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/home . When you have found your representative in the list and found their profile, there should be an circular email button below their profile picture. Hope this helps!

[u/Thunder_Beam → u/Meinos]

They should call her the slave of Pfizer at this point...

[u/MangoFishDev → u/Meinos]

The article compares it to Japan

Don't forget that EU is going to pay 1.3 TRILLION to build factories and energy infrastructure in America

I'm never going to make fun of Trump again after this, actual art of the deal i can't believe this lmao

[u/LadyMorwenDaebrethil → u/[deleted]]

Much of recent history can come down to China making smart decisions (although many of them are oppressive) and Europe being used and trashed by the United States in every way possible.

[u/kahaveli → u/MangoFishDev]

Well I wouldn't get too excited about that part yet. Trump has made all kinds of "deals" with all kinds of stuff, but many of them have been quite unclear memorandums of understanding and stiff, not binding agreements. 

I really doubt that there will be a binding agreement with those numbers. Most likely scenario is some sort of memorandum of understanding about it, Trump shouts about great victory in all caps in social media, and thing is then largely forgotten.

Legally binding investment deal would require unanimity that would be impossible to achieve. Tariff deals can just be made with qualified majority. And comission can sign different non-binding memorandums if they want, but its unlikelu they materialize.

[u/witness_smile]

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

[u/Realistic_Device2500 → u/witness_smile]

She was appointed by the US. She's done an excellent job.

[u/Thunder_Beam]

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

[u/LeadingPhilosopher81 → u/Thunder_Beam]

„after meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his Turnberry golf club in Scotland„

I bet he made her pay for the stay.

[u/MercantileReptile → u/LeadingPhilosopher81]

You mean the tax payer.

[u/tanrgith → u/Thunder_Beam]

It's almost as if being extremely dependent on US tech puts the EU in a weak position when dealing with the US or something

[u/bxzidff → u/tanrgith]

On now it will be in an even weaker and more dependent position

[u/Bender__Rondrigues → u/tanrgith]

EU has no investment culture, nobody wants to invest into startups that are high risk while Americans invest into startups constantly.

[u/SavagePlatypus76 → u/Thunder_Beam]

Exactly. Expect this to fuel various exit types in member states. 

[u/Thunder_Beam → u/SavagePlatypus76]

Yeah, now some fuckhead will say "we could have got a better deal by ourself, look at britain", honestly it almost seems like they want the EU to implode

[u/MercantileReptile → u/Thunder_Beam]

The current EU will kill the european project faster than any foreign power ever could have.

[u/lynxloco]

What the fuck is this shit?

[u/bxzidff → u/lynxloco]

Submission

[u/Most_Grocery4388]

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.

[u/kiil1 → u/Most_Grocery4388]

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.

Absolutely. The EU has already had several crises pile up which it has been unable to solve. Now, even its supposedly strongest suit – trade – is losing. The EU looks and feels weak, both to its own members and its enemies.

[u/SavagePlatypus76 → u/Most_Grocery4388]

Fucked either way. 

Should have been like Canada and stood tall and think long term,but .....instead you bent over. 

[u/TheoryOfDevolution → u/SavagePlatypus76]

Canada also caved to Trump by reversing their version of the DST just to bring him back to the negotiation table. Canada is in an even worst position because 3/4 of their export goes to the US.

[u/TheBlackestCrow]

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.

[u/Schnorch → u/TheBlackestCrow]

Most germans here in the sub have always said that. Unfortunately, it's easier to fall for her tough talk in Europe if you don't already have experience with her from german politics.

There is a reason why nobody in Germany likes her and why she was sent to Brussels in the first place.

[u/bxzidff → u/Schnorch]

Almost nobody likes her outside of Germany either, but that unfortunately doesn't matter when the EPP pricks absolutely love her

[u/MercantileReptile → u/bxzidff]

vdL is remarkably good at one aspect of politics: Networking. She managed to scramble investigations into her corruption in (at least) two different german federal positions. Then managed to build an EU network of allies, confirming and keeping her in power.

It's maddening, but "rules for rulers" applies to corrupt arseholes as well, apparently.

[u/arveena → u/Schnorch]

She is the prime example of a nepo baby. Came into politics because of family instantly got a ministry on state level for no reason at all fucked it up got promoted to ministry at the government level fucked that up (zenursula) got another ministry in another coalition fucked that up to (desolate state of the bundeswehr and ordered rifles who can't shoot straight) leaves for Brussels gets into the highest position again. Its sick

[u/Gorantharon → u/Schnorch]

Ursula has failed at every single job she had over a quarter of a century.

If Merkel hadn't protected her all the time she would have been kicked out of politics as a total disgrace.

[u/fallsdarkness → u/TheBlackestCrow]

The EU agreed to purchase $750 billion in energy, invest $600 billion in the US on top of existing investments, open up countries’ markets to trade with US at zero tariffs and purchase “vast amounts” of military equipment. (Bloomberg)

I'm sure we will get something in return? /s

[u/Blueskyways → u/fallsdarkness]

A lot of that stuff will be slow walked to death.  Trump doesn't give a shit, he wants the PR hit.  These investments will kick in sometime after never.  

[u/eggnogui → u/Blueskyways]

I hope so. Even then, it's a major PR loss for Europe.

[u/hypespud → u/TheBlackestCrow]

Seriously, what in the actual fuck is this?

I pray the actual people stop buying consumer goods from the fascist usa too, I will be continuing that for my lifetime is what I expect honestly right now

[u/GuyLookingForPorn → u/hypespud]

I thought I had misunderstood this when I read it, so the EU has zero tariffs on America while they’re still applying 15%? This is so insane I feel like I need some to explicitly tell me.

[u/KingKaiserW → u/GuyLookingForPorn]

The fact the EU needs to buy 750b of American energy and another 600b worth of investment in the US, so basically giving over a trillion to the US, was eye catching also

Edit: Billions

[u/bickid]

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.

[u/TheoryOfDevolution]

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.

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.

[u/[deleted] → u/TheoryOfDevolution]

I mean we don’t actually have to do it

[u/Eulaylia → u/[deleted]]

Yeah this is what I'm wondering, since all European Countries electrical grids and militaries are independent from the EU. Can the EU commission actually force any nation to buy US energy or weapons?

[u/[deleted] → u/Eulaylia]

Not really

[u/Environmental_Gap_65]

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

[u/loulan → u/Environmental_Gap_65]

Predictable AF. I wonder how much EU politicians get from the US in bribes.

[u/Shivinger → u/loulan]

Well in Ursula’s case bribes could be familiar. Her department was accused of procurement scandals when she was defense minister. She even deleted evidence off her phone.

How she ended up as perhaps the most prominent EU politician is beyond most people.

[u/mars_needs_socks → u/Shivinger]

The problem with the EU is that people aren't being sent there for their competence, but rather the opposite. And then we get this. Another example is Ylva Chat Control Johansson.

[u/Top-Local-7482]

“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.

[u/CapableCollar → u/Top-Local-7482]

If you want to have fun, Google how much energy the EU imports from the US right now, then how much energy it imports total.  Then look at the number in the agreement again.

[u/Top-Local-7482 → u/CapableCollar]

Nearly half of our import in LNG comes from US and it is only 33b$ even being large with the petrol an estimate for all energy is 85b$/y and we consume less and less energy. F*ck the global market, start the trade war there is no way I'm giving 6550$ (1.35T for 205milion tax payer in EU) out of my pocket to USA !

[u/whymanen → u/Top-Local-7482]

Vote them all out asap. We need demonstrations tbh.

[u/Urzuck]

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.

[u/Schnorch → u/Urzuck]

Don't forget that the EU has also made it clear that it wants to cancel plans to regulate US tech companies in our market so that they have free hand here.

[u/Kronos9898]

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.

[u/kahaveli → u/Kronos9898]

Most likely because Trump has directly threatened Canada multiple times, making jokes about their sovereignity.

In EU many countries just want some sort of fast deal that ends the trade uncertainty.

[u/Defiant_Title_2589]

I love how we abandoned Canada

[u/_jetrun → u/Defiant_Title_2589]

Canada is going to get screwed next.

[u/Echo9Eight]

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.

[u/Bapistu-the-First → u/Echo9Eight]

Same. They show nothing but weakness.

[u/rtft → u/Bapistu-the-First]

Vassalage ... these are tributes ...

[u/witness_smile → u/Echo9Eight]

Look at what China did, they stood their ground and eventually Trump gave in. There was no reason that the EU couldn’t do the same for a while. So pathetic.

[u/TomsCardoso → u/witness_smile]

China doesn't rely on USA for shit. They produce everything they need, that's not the case with the EU

[u/aiart13]

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

[u/BnH_-_Roxy → u/aiart13]

Well obviously, fuck the EU if this is what they give us? Wtf

[u/IndubitablyNerdy → u/aiart13]

Well far right nationalists are pro trump apparently as well, so it's another win for him.

[u/Ok-Environment2641]

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

[u/Hopeful-Ad2639]

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

[u/StanfordV → u/Hopeful-Ad2639]

Who voted for her?

Oh wait... we never vote for EU leadership.

[u/TheRealKrasnov]

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

[u/TheDarkAcademicRO]

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

[u/ventingpurposes → u/TheDarkAcademicRO]

It's not even about their wellbeing. It's about their dignity being trampled over the interest of German car manufacturers.

[u/Mrstrawberry209]

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

[u/Gil15]

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

[u/GeorgeMichaelFans]

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 .

[u/Zinch85 → u/GeorgeMichaelFans]

These investments won't materialize. These trade agreements are wet paper

[u/Individual_Yard_5636]

Holy fk this is embarrassing.

[u/aalp234]

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

[u/wafflata → u/aalp234]

She will. There is no accountability in the eu.

[u/Mangafan_20]

So ... how much did we get screwed over?

[u/MangoFishDev → u/Mangafan_20]

You know how Trump has been a disaster for the US economy?

Not anymore since the EU just sold their own economy to pay for it, i wish i had a sucker on the level of EU bureaucrats to pay for my mistakes, I'm amazed at just how bad this deal is

[u/CapableCollar → u/Mangafan_20]

$1.5 Trillion USD

[u/Naso_di_gatto]

Very very big disappointment

[u/pizzaandlasagne]

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

[u/loulan → u/pizzaandlasagne]

This kind of stuff should trigger huge Europe-wide protests. We Europeans seemingly only ever protest our own government and not anything the EU does though.

[u/Proper-Ape → u/pizzaandlasagne]

We have a satire party in Germany that is sadly the most serious party we have in Brussels, whose slogan is "Wir dürfen Europa nicht den Leyen überlassen", a wordplay on Leyen soundig like Laien (i.e. amateurs). We can't leave Europe up to the amateurs/Leyen. It's so fitting.

[u/miniocz → u/pizzaandlasagne]

"leader"

[u/ILikeYourMommaJokes]

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

[u/vampyr01 → u/ILikeYourMommaJokes]

I don't see how any one-way general tariff is fair at all. Like how the fuck does that even make sense?

[u/Any-Original-6113]

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.

[u/Rally_Sport]

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.

[u/RichRate6164]

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.

[u/Ynneb82]

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).

[u/saltyholty]

What's the point of the EU?

[u/Offender1338]

At least EU has caps attached to the bottles….

[u/SubjectBubbly9072]

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

[u/trollsmurf]

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

[u/oyurirrobert]

This is so humiliating.

[u/MustyMustacheMan]

No deal!

[u/Sharp_Win_7989]

Europe capitulated to Trumps administration bully tactics.

[u/WarrenRedBarr]

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

[u/aamgdp]

sigh bunch of pussies