Trump Forces Europe Into Uneasy Trade Truce With 15% Tariffs—Markets Cheer, Critics Cry 'Capitulation'

The United States and European Union have struck a last-minute trade deal, narrowly averting a full-blown trade war. Under the agreement, most EU exports to the US will face a 15% tariff—much lower than the 30% previously threatened, but still a significant increase from current rates. In exchange, the EU has pledged to buy hundreds of billions of dollars in American energy and military equipment, though experts question whether these targets are realistic. European leaders are divided: some see the deal as a necessary compromise, while others denounce it as a humiliating submission to US pressure. Investors welcomed the clarity, but the deal is expected to raise prices, pinch European manufacturers, and test transatlantic relations.