The European Union's (EU) passive stance during negotiations with the United States on reciprocal tariffs has led to "frustration" for US President Donald Trump, Politico reported, citing a senior US official.
In the first 13 meetings between the EU and the US administration, whether virtual or face-to-face, Brussels has not made a single offer to Washington, a US official said.
"The president was totally frustrated with their lack of dynamism; they were really just meeting and talking but doing nothing. Then he sent a letter and everything changed - they realized they were serious, they realized they were at considerable risk if they didn't come to the table," He remarked.
The US official added that the US administration had privately evaluated the EU's actions much more harshly than Trump had publicly presented them.
Trump said after a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday that Washington and Brussels had agreed on 15% tariffs on all European goods entering the US market, while the EU would not impose tariffs on goods from the United States.
Earlier, the Trump administration threatened to impose new trade tariffs of 30 % on all EU exports. Trump called the agreements reached with the European Union "the greatest deal ever made".
Certain key sectors have been exempted from the agreement: for example, aerospace components, semiconductors, chemicals and selected pharmaceutical products, which will be traded tariff-free under a zero-for-zero regime.
The EU was preparing a massive retaliation
While publicly the EU has been passive, internally it is said to be preparing retaliatory measures. It planned to impose tariffs on up to €93 billion worth of US goods, including hits on the automotive industry, food and digital services. The proposal was shelved just before the deal was struck, but remains ready to be activated if the US fails to honour its commitments.
According to The Washington Post, the EU was forced to accept an uneven deal to avoid even tougher US measures. Many European diplomats have described the deal as a "concession to pressure" and a "short-term respite" with no structural certainty for the future.
The Wall Street Journal also points to the fragility of the new arrangement, which has no clear legal guarantees. The agreement is not an official treaty, but rather a political arrangement that can change at any time at the will of the US administration.
France calls for counter-strike even after agreement
The strongest reaction came from France. Finance Minister Jean-Yves Martel called on the EU to activate the so-called "trade bazooka" - a new legislative instrument that allows the EU to react quickly and aggressively to the economic coercive policies of third countries. He said Trump's strategy "completely ignores international rules" and should not go unanswered.
Trade balance and political context
In 2023, trade in goods between the EU and the US was €851 billion, with the EU running a surplus of €157 billion. Trade in services reached €746 billion, this time with an EU deficit of €109 billion. These inequalities, according to Trump, were the reason to "level the playing field".
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