EU Agrees to Trump 15% Tariffs Amid Widespread Backlash

President Donald Trump secured a significant trade deal with the European Union that imposes a 15% tariff on most EU imports to the U.S., including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors, while applying a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum with a quota system to alleviate some pressure. The EU agreed to purchase $750 billion in American energy over three years and invest $600 billion in U.S. industries, aiming to boost American jobs and industrial growth. EU officials, including Ursula von der Leyen, defended the deal as a necessary compromise to avoid a harsher trade war and provide market stability. However, the agreement drew sharp criticism from European leaders and industry groups, with France's Prime Minister François Bayrou calling it a “dark day” and accusing the EU of submission, while some economists and trade associations described the tariffs as burdensome and the deal as inadequate. Advocacy groups warned that the agreement empowers President Trump and strengthens his position, with concerns that it may not be sustainable long-term. Overall, the deal represents a climb down from Trump's threatened 30% tariffs but marks a significant escalation from pre-Trump tariff levels, revealing deep divisions within the EU over how to handle trade relations with the U.S.