The US-EU Agreement Is a Surrender, Not a Deal
I’m writing this as Gerd Dani, President of Free Astroscience, and I’m angry. Not the performative, headline-chasing kind of angry, but the slow-burning, bone-deep frustration that comes from watching your home continent get played—again—by a swaggering American president who sees Europe as little more than a cash machine. If you’re tired of the endless spin about “partnership” and “stability,” you’re not alone. Let’s cut through the noise.
Let’s start with three ideas you’ve probably heard: First, that this deal is a “win-win” for both sides. Second, tariffs are a necessary evil to “rebalance” trade. Third, that buying American energy and weapons is about “security.” All three are seductive lies. The truth? This deal is a one-way street, tariffs are economic self-harm, and “security” is just a fig leaf for American profit. Let’s tear these myths apart—then build something better.
The Reality Behind the US-EU Agreement
So, what exactly happened? In a gilded Scottish golf club, Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen announced a “historic” agreement: a flat 15% tariff on most European exports to the US, with a few strategic exceptions. In return, Europe promises to buy $750 billion in American energy and military equipment, plus another $600 billion in “investments” in the US economy. The details? Still fuzzy. The power dynamic? Crystal clear.
Trump calls it “the biggest deal ever.” Von der Leyen claims it brings “stability.” But let’s be honest: stability for whom? For American exporters, who now have a captive European market. For US energy giants, who get to replace Russian gas with overpriced American LNG. For American arms manufacturers, who see Europe’s defence budgets fattened by political pressure from Washington. For European citizens and small businesses? Not so much.
Tariffs: The Illusion of Protection, the Reality of Pain
Let’s talk tariffs. They’re sold as a way to “protect” domestic industries and fix trade deficits. In reality, they’re a blunt instrument that punishes everyone except the most politically connected. When the US slaps a 15% tariff on European cars, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors, it’s not just German automakers or Italian designers who suffer. It’s the entire European supply chain—small manufacturers, logistics firms, and, ultimately, consumers who pay higher prices.
The economic evidence is brutal. Tariffs raise costs, fuel inflation, and shrink trade. The ECB estimates that a 20% tariff war would slash eurozone growth to just 0.5% next year. That’s not “stability”—that’s stagnation. And for what? The US trade deficit isn’t caused by “unfair” European competition. It’s the result of America’s own fiscal choices and chronic under-saving. Tariffs won’t fix that. They just create new losers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Europe’s Capitulation: From Digital Tax to Defence Spending
What did Europe get in return? Not much. The much-touted “zero for zero” tariffs on a handful of strategic goods—planes, some chemicals, a few generics—are crumbs compared to the billions in new costs for European exporters. The digital tax, once a symbol of European sovereignty, was quietly sacrificed to appease Washington. Defence spending? Europe is now committed to purchasing more American weapons, with a NATO requirement to spend 2% of GDP by 2035. Energy? We’re swapping one dependency (Russian gas) for another (American LNG), at a premium.
This isn’t partnership. It’s subordination. It’s Europe playing the role of Trump’s ATM—handing over cash, market access, and political leverage in exchange for the illusion of “friendship.” And let’s not kid ourselves: Trump has made it clear he prefers bilateral deals with weak European states, not a strong, united EU. Every concession we make just encourages more demands.
The Political Theatre: Who Really Wins?
If you listen to the press conferences, you’d think this was a triumph of diplomacy. But scratch the surface, and you see the same old story: American threats, European retreats, and a continent that still can’t speak with one voice. The US gets to claim victory at home, boasting about “tough negotiations” and “fairness.” European leaders get to claim they “avoided escalation”—as if not being punched in the face is something to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the real winners are the lobbyists and multinationals who profit from regulatory arbitrage and government contracts. The losers? European workers, small businesses, and anyone who believes in a fair, rules-based global economy.
The Long-Term Damage: A Warning for Europe
Here’s the part that keeps me up at night. This deal doesn’t just hurt Europe today—it sets a precedent for the future. It normalises the idea that Europe’s role is to pay up, shut up, and hope for the best. It undermines the very idea of multilateralism, replacing it with transactional, zero-sum politics. It accelerates the regionalisation of supply chains, making everything more expensive and less efficient. And it tells every other global player—China, India, Russia—that Europe can be bullied into submission.
If we don’t break this cycle, we’ll wake up in a decade to find ourselves poorer, weaker, and more divided than ever.
My Message to Europe: Enough Is Enough
I’m not writing this to wallow in defeatism. I’m writing because I believe Europe can—and must—do better. We are not Trump’s ATM. We are not a passive market for American goods and gas. We are a continent of innovators, creators, and citizens who deserve leaders willing to fight for our interests.
So, what do we do? We demand transparency. We build real strategic autonomy—on energy, defence, and technology. We invest in our own industries and stop sacrificing our future for short-term “stability.” We stand up to American pressure, not with empty rhetoric, but with real economic and political leverage. And above all, we remember that dignity is not negotiable.
Final Thought: Will We Learn, or Will We Pay?
This deal is a wake-up call. The question is, will Europe finally wake up—or will we keep sleepwalking into irrelevance, one “historic” agreement at a time? The choice is ours. And if you’re as tired as I am of being treated like an ATM, it’s time to make some noise.
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