U.S. and European Union agree framework trade deal
發佈日期: 2025-07-28 22:21
TVB News
The United States and the European Union on Sunday agreed to a trade framework, setting a 15 percent tariff on most goods, staving off, at least for now, a trade war.
U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement at Trump's golf course in Scotland.
Analysts say the agreement mirrors that of the recent U.S.-Japan deal, with Trump considering it a triumph for his tariff policies aimed at addressing U.S. trade deficits with most countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled in a motorcade to Donald Trump's luxury golf course in Scotland, where deals are made. At stake was a trade war.
Trump earlier threatened to slap broad 50 percent tariffs on all European imports. The EU was ready to fight back with levies on 93 billion U.S. dollars' worth of American goods. After some tough negotiations, a deal was struck.
The agreement has the U.S. charging a 15 percent baseline tariff on EU imports including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
However, in two weeks, results of a U.S. probe into 232 trade cases may decide separate tariffs for chips and pharmaceuticals.
Zero-for-zero tariffs on all aircraft and their components, certain chemicals and generic drugs, semiconductor equipment, some agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials.
Tariffs on European steel and aluminium stay at 50 percent, though they would later be cut and replaced by a quota system.
The EU pledges 750 billion dollars in strategic purchases during Trump's term, covering oil, gas, nuclear, fuel and chips.
The EU has also agreed to buy U.S. military equipment, and European companies will invest 600 billion dollars in the U.S. during Trump's term.
"I think it's great that we made a deal today instead of playing games and maybe not making a deal at all," said Trump. "I think it's, I'm going to let you say it, but I think it's the biggest deal ever made. Thank you very much, Congratulations."
We have a deal," said Von der Leyen. "We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world. And it's a big deal, it's a huge deal. It will bring stability, it will bring predictability. That's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic."
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick described it as a historic day for U.S. trade.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the deal but some analysts said it is imbalanced, with one saying it is merely a political agreement that could not replace a detailed trade plan.
