Brussels — European leaders breathed a sigh of relief after a last-minute agreement with former President Donald Trump temporarily defused a potential trade war between the United States and the European Union. Yet behind the cautious optimism lies a deeper question: can Europe trust Washington to keep its word?
The deal, reached after high-stakes negotiations, paused escalating tariffs on automobiles and industrial goods in exchange for commitments to work toward “zero tariffs” on certain products and to increase European imports of U.S. soybeans and liquefied natural gas. Trump hailed the outcome as a “breakthrough,” while EU officials framed it as a necessary truce to prevent further economic damage.
For the EU, the agreement avoided an immediate crisis that threatened key industries and jobs across the continent. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who led the talks, called it a “good start” toward restoring balance in transatlantic trade relations.
Still, skepticism runs deep in Brussels and other European capitals. Officials recall how swiftly previous trade truces have unraveled and point to Trump’s history of unpredictable policy reversals. Many fear that the détente could collapse if political or economic pressures in Washington shift.
Economists note that while the agreement buys time, it resolves few of the underlying disputes over tariffs, subsidies, and regulatory standards. The U.S. continues to question Europe’s trade surplus and agricultural protections, while EU leaders remain wary of further American tariffs on cars and steel.
Business groups welcomed the pause but urged both sides to pursue lasting solutions. “The truce is good news, but it’s fragile,” said one European trade official. “Trust takes time, and right now, it’s in short supply.”
For now, the European Union has managed to pull back from the brink of a trade confrontation with the United States. Whether the calm lasts depends less on diplomacy than on whether Trump — known for treating negotiation as a high-stakes contest — decides that peace is worth more than leverage.
