The European Union's (EU) passive stance during negotiations with the United States regarding mutual tariffs led to "frustration" on the part of U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Politico, citing a senior U.S. official.

During the first 13 meetings between EU officials and the U.S. administration, whether virtual or in-person, Brussels did not present Washington with a single offer, the U.S. official said.

"The president was absolutely frustrated with their lack of dynamism; they were just meeting and talking, but not doing anything. Then he sent a letter, and everything changed—they realized he was serious, they realized they were facing a significant risk if they didn't come to the table," he noted.

The U.S. official added that the U.S. administration privately assessed the EU's actions much more harshly than Trump publicly presented.

After a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said that Washington and Brussels had agreed on 15% tariffs on all European goods entering the U.S. market, while the EU would not impose tariffs on goods from the United States.

Previously, the Trump administration had threatened to impose new trade tariffs of 30% on all exports from the EU. Trump described the agreements reached with the European Union as ""

Certain key sectors were excluded from the agreement, such as aircraft components, semiconductors, chemicals, and selected pharmaceutical products, which will be traded without tariffs under a "zero-for-zero" regime.

The EU was preparing massive retaliation

While publicly the EU appeared passive, internally it was reportedly preparing retaliatory measures. It planned to impose tariffs on U.S. goods worth up to 93 billion euros, including measures affecting the automotive industry, food, and digital services. The proposal was put on hold just before the agreement was reached, but remains ready to be activated if the U.S. fails to fulfill its commitments.

According to The Washington Post, the EU was forced to accept an uneven agreement in order to avoid even harsher U.S. measures. Many European diplomats described the agreement as "a concession to pressure" and "a short-term respite" without structural certainty for the future.

The Wall Street Journal also points out the fragility of the new arrangement, which lacks clear legal guarantees. The agreement is not an official treaty, but rather a political understanding that can be changed at any time at the discretion of the U.S. administration.

France calls for a counter-offensive even after the agreement

The strongest reaction came from France. Finance Minister Jean-Yves Martel called on the EU to activate what is known as the "trade bazooka" – a new legislative tool that allows the EU to quickly and aggressively respond to economic pressure tactics by third countries. According to him, Trump's strategy "completely ignores international rules" and should not go unanswered.

Trade balance and political undertones

In 2023, trade in goods between the EU and the U.S. amounted to 851 billion euros, with the EU having a surplus of 157 billion euros. Trade in services reached 746 billion euros, with the EU having a deficit of 109 billion euros. According to Trump, these imbalances were the reason for "leveling the playing field."

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