The EU believes that agreements between the US and the Union on defense, trade and the Ukraine conflict should be seen as something that has allowed the bloc to buy “a little time“, rather than as resolving contentious issues between Brussels and Washington,, the Financial Times reported, citing a senior EU official.
“A senior EU official told the Financial Times that the agreements on defense, trade and Ukraine should be seen as something that has “bought the EU a little time“ "in relation to the Trump administration, not as a solution to contentious issues," the publication said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump reached a trade agreement on July 27 that will now impose 15% tariffs on almost all EU exports to the US. The EU has also committed to buying liquefied natural gas (LNG), nuclear fuel and weapons from the US. The agreement does not include the removal of 50% US tariffs on steel and aluminium, but these could be reduced through further negotiations. Specifically, as part of the agreement, the European Union has committed to buying energy from Washington worth $750 billion - $250 billion per year until the end of Trump's term - and to investing an additional $600 billion in America.