We did itis themost important agreement ever». Among the hills of the Southwestern Scotland The match on the European Union duties and the United States. Ended after a meeting that lasted less than an hour, who started with a Donald Trump rushed and one Ursula von der leyen From the face a few times thus pulled. And closed with the confirmation of the basic rate who, in recent days, had been agreed by the Sherpas: 15%.
The President of the Commission flew to Trump Turnberry resort accompanied by the Caponegiator Maros Sefcovic and by the technical team that for long months tried to soften the American positions. Von der Leyen has arrived at Golf Club on the Clyde summer in the afternoon. Trump had just finished playing “with his son Eric and some friends”, reported the spokesman for the White House.
Just before starting the summit, both Trump and von der Leyen reiterated that the game was still in the balance. “We have the 50% of possibilities»To close it, they braked both. But it was above all tactics. There Act substance It was ready. It was a matter of understanding how sell it without too many image leaks and giving the American president the opportunity to sell it in his own way.
Also the Acta format It was strongly Trumpian. The two leaders made a press point with European and American reporters before the start of the summit. An hour later, the agreement was communicated by Trump and Von der Leyen only to Pool of journalists following the first.
“The EU will make 600 billion of investments in the USA and will buy us 750 billion of energy», The Tycoon exulted which, before the meeting, had produced in yet another Attack on Europe On the favorite ground: immigration and green deal. Washington has obtained that the pharmaceutical sector both outside the agreement and, in fact, obtained that rebalancing commercial relations who asked vehemently since the beginning of his mandate.
“I want to thank Trump personallyis a great negotiator but also a “dealmaker“», Von der Leyen granted him. “Ursula did a great job for the EU, not for us», Had been Trump’s provocation in the first bars of the summit.
For Europe, he assured Von der Leyen, the glass is half -full. “Let’s not forget where we left from», Explained the president remembering that the car sector was included in the 15% rate and remarking that the agreement opens the doors of the American market to the companies of the Old Continent. 15%, he explained, will also concern i semiconductors And the pharmaceutical, although on this last point Trump did not say the same thing. Not only that. On the so -called “Strategic products” The rate will be of the 0%recalled number one of Palais Berlaymont.
That can convince everyone and 27 European leaders It is absolutely not obvious. But, at the moment, the Commission does not provide for refreshment measures for the most affected sectors. On the other hand von der Leyen explained that he wanted accelerate on commercial agreements on siteThe Mercosur First of all but also the Partnership with Southeast Asia and theFar East.
But the most important point, he underlined, is that the agreement “will give stability»At a time when Europe began to feel the extension of theuncertainty of the second Trumpian era.
That between Washington and Brussels everything ended with the Scottish pact It is something that few are convinced in Europe. Certain Berlin applauded the agreement by claiming that “a useless escalation has been avoided». An escalation that certainly didn’t even want Giorgia Meloniwho seems to be satisfied, reserving the right to “see the details”.
But there are gods dark points. Points that will hold the Sherpa in the coming weekssince a official text of the cessation It has not yet been widespread. Among the most painful keys, for the EU, it certainly is that ofsteel and aluminum. “Nothing will change», Then they will remain at 50%closed Trump at the press point. But a Brussels ensure that the game is not yet closed. Except that it will be conducted once the spotlight is off.