French PM Bayrou: trade deal between von der Leyen and Trump represents a sombre day

French PM Bayrou: trade deal between von der Leyen and Trump represents a sombre day

French Prime Minister François Bayrou has expressed reservations about the recently signed trade deal between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump, describing it as a "sombre day" for the EU. The agreement, reached on July 27, 2025, aims to avoid a full-scale trade war but has sparked mixed reactions among European leaders [1].

The deal, which was clinched just five days before the August 1 deadline set by Trump, involves a 15% tariff on most EU goods imported to the U.S. This is a significant reduction from the 30% tariff that Trump had threatened to impose [2]. However, the agreement has not been without its controversies. The EU and the U.S. have differing views on key details, such as the tariff on pharmaceuticals, steel, and aluminum, and the implementation of non-tariff barriers [2].

Bayrou's concerns are echoed by other European leaders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the agreement but did so with little enthusiasm. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever summed up the mood among European leaders, stating, "This is a moment of relief, but not of celebration" [1]. French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad acknowledged the deal would bring "temporary stability" but called it "unbalanced" [1].

The deal also has implications for the UK, which is expected to discuss the agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer [3]. The UK's trade deal with the U.S., which was agreed in May, is seen as more favorable than the EU-US deal, with the UK avoiding the 30% tariff threat [3].

The trade deal has been praised by some for bringing stability to transatlantic relations, but concerns remain about the implementation and interpretation of the agreement. Carsten Nickel, deputy director of research at Teneo, noted that major uncertainties are likely to persist due to the nature of the deal [2].

References:
[1] https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/07/28/tariffs-eu-hands-trump-a-political-win-to-avoid-trade-chaos_6743799_19.html
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/trump-eus-von-der-leyen-cite-conflicting-details-on-trade-deal/articleshow/122946597.cms
[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c5y0d0yz282t