15 % customs duties | The United States and the EU conclude an agreement

(Turnberry) The American president, Donald Trump, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, snatched a customs agreement in Turnberry in Scotland on Sunday after a lightning meeting.

A little more than an hour has passed, before journalists, to whom the two leaders had previously said they had “50 % of chances” to agree, were recalled in the sumptuous ballroom of the Golf Complex “Trump Turnberry”, on the west coast of Scotland.

“We have reached an agreement,” said the Republican leader, calling him a “greater” ever concluded in terms of trade, and seeing a promise of “unity and friendship”.

The boss of the European executive greets a “good agreement”, which will bring “stability. »»

The European and American delegations applaud when they exchange, twice, a handshake.

15 % customs duties

For the most part, it is Donald Trump who explains the contours: customs duties of 15 % on European products imported on the one hand, the EU which engages at $ 750 billion in energy purchases and 600 billion additional investments in the United States on the other.

It was less one, or almost.

The 79 -year -old republican, launched in a vast protectionist offensive, had given himself up to 1^is August before knocking out European products entering 30 %customs duties into the United States.

Ursula von der Leyen had taken care, before the discussions, to praise the talents of “formidable negotiator” of the New York billionaire, and to underline the need to “rebalance” the transatlantic commercial relationship.

The agreement, all the details of which are not yet exactly known, will have to be validated by the EU member states. Their ambassadors, traveling to Greenland, were informed Sunday morning of the last negotiations, and will have to consult it again to validate it.

Turnberry’s agreement confirms that transatlantic exchanges have entered a new era, that of uninhibited American protectionism. Until Donald Trump’s return to power, they were marked by a level of American customs duties of 4.8 % on average.

In fact, the effective rate applied by the United States to European goods was already rose to almost 15 %, if the surcharge of 10 % of the United States government is added and the rate of 4.8 % preexisting.

« Bazooka »

If Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump could not get along, Brussels was ready to fight back by taxing American products and services.

The European executive, under the leadership of certain countries such as France, had also threatened to remove access to European public procurement or block certain investments.

Delive this “bazooka”-called “anticoCition” instrument in Brussels jargon-would have trained Europe and America in an incredible diplomatic-economic-economic escalation.

Donald Trump claims to be in a position of strength. But some surveys show that Americans doubt their customs strategy and business conduct in general.

The American leader, who has always played scandals and criminal proceedings, struggles to get out of the Jeffrey Epstein affair.

He is accused of lacking transparency on the relations he had with this rich financier, who died in prison before a trial for sexual crimes which promised to be resounding.

By announcing an agreement with the EU, in the wake of those concluded in recent days with Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, does Donald Trump try to make a diversion?

A journalist asked him the question on Sunday. “It’s a joke, isn’t it?” It has nothing to do with it. It is only you to think that, on this day which is a good day for the European economy and the American economy, “said the American president.

On Monday, it is with China that American negotiators will endeavor to avoid a resumption of commercial escalation, during a meeting in Stockholm.