Spanish media critiques US-EU trade deal as sign of European geopolitical weakness

The recent trade arrangement between the United States and the European Union on tariffs has sparked sharp criticism from the Spanish newspaper El País, which portrays the deal as a manifestation of the EU’s geopolitical frailty.

In a pointed editorial, El País characterizes the pact as scarcely deserving the term “agreement.” While it may have averted an escalation of trade hostilities, the newspaper argues that it leaves “a very unpleasant aftertaste on this side of the Atlantic.” The publication contends that this deal underscores the European Union’s persistent geopolitical vulnerabilities—weaknesses previously exposed in the crises engulfing Ukraine and the Middle East.

Further analysis within the newspaper echoes concerns that Brussels exhibited a lack of resolve from the outset of negotiations, driven primarily by apprehension over triggering a full-scale trade war. Experts also warn that, despite the impending end of US President Donald Trump’s administration, the tariffs agreed upon could endure beyond his term, perpetuating uncertainty for European exporters.

The deal, announced by the White House following a meeting between President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sets a tariff rate of 15% on all European goods entering the US market. In exchange, the EU agreed not to impose retaliatory tariffs on American imports. This agreement comes after the Trump administration’s initial threat to impose a 30% tariff on all EU exports, a move that risked severely disrupting transatlantic trade ties.

President Trump hailed the pact as “the largest” trade agreement in history, framing it as a significant achievement. However, El País’ critique highlights the broader geopolitical implications, suggesting that the deal exposes the EU’s diminished leverage on the global stage amid rising geopolitical tensions.

By Vafa Guliyeva