Reaction has been pouring in to the newly struck EU-US trade deal, with the EU facing growing criticism over a compromise many see as a strategic misstep under pressure from Washington.
In what has been a politically charged week, European Union negotiators have come out swinging in defence of the new trade framework struck with the United States, arguing that the controversial deal was the only alternative to a catastrophic trade war.
Framed as a necessary compromise, the agreement imposes 15 percent tariffs on most European exports to the US, while unlocking promises of €685 billion in energy purchases – including over €200 billion in liquefied natural gas on an annual basis – and €510 billion in EU-based investments by 2028.
For Brussels, Sunday's deal is a pragmatic move, not a celebratory one.
“A trade war may seem appealing to some, but it comes with serious consequences,” said EU chief trade negotiator Maros Sefcovic. “We’ve safeguarded five million European jobs that depend on transatlantic trade.”
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France remains critical and sceptical
Yet the mood in Paris has been far from triumphant. French Prime Minister François Bayrou branded the deal a “dark day” for Europe, accusing the bloc of “resigning itself to submission”.
His language was echoed by key ministers and business leaders who contend that the EU has failed to wield its economic strength effectively in negotiations.
“This agreement is not complete. The work continues,” said Economy Minister Eric Lombard, highlighting unresolved issues in pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, chemicals and agricultural goods.
Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin was even more direct: “If this is the final word, we have weakened ourselves”.
While criticism in France has been fierce, some observers emphasise the need to understand how trade agreements are negotiated at an EU level in the first place.
“The European Commission negotiates trade agreements for all EU countries. That is its job,” said Olivier Costa, political scientist and researcher with Sciences-Po.
Speaking to RFI, he added: “Ursula von der Leyen was entirely within her remit.”
Costa did, however, express concern about the EU’s energy investment commitments, noting that “states don’t buy gas or oil – private operators do. There’s a form of legal creativity at work”.
He also pushed back on the idea that France speaks for everyone.
“Those favouring a hard line against Trump are in the minority. The deal aligns with the preferences of major exporters like Germany.”
For many, a predictable 15 percent tariff is preferable to chaotic, escalating duties. In Brussels, officials admit the agreement is suboptimal – but say the alternatives were worse.
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French businesses sound the alarm
Meanwhile, business leaders in France have voiced their deep concern.
“If things are as we’ve been told, this is unacceptable,” said Patrick Martin, president of Medef – France’s largest employers’ federation.
Small and medium enterprises in particular are bracing for fallout, with the CPME small business association predicting “disastrous repercussions".
However, reactions across different sectors have been varied. The Federation of Beauty Companies (FEBEA) noted that duties on cosmetics exports to the US would now rise from 0 to 15 percent – a bitter pill for an industry previously shielded from tariffs.
The agrifood sector was equally dismayed. “Clearly unfair,” said Ania, the food industry employers’ group, noting that French wine and spirits – already facing market challenges – would be especially hard-hit.
The only exceptions came from sectors that secured exemptions. The aeronautics industry welcomed the deal. “This protects skilled jobs and maintains balance in transatlantic industrial cooperation,” said the French Aerospace Industries Association.
Europe-wide balancing act
Reactions across the EU have ranged from tepid acceptance to cautious optimism.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the deal as “better than escalation”, but lamented its asymmetric burden on Germany’s export-heavy economy.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni called the agreement “positive” in averting a trade war but acknowledged many uncertainties remain, particularly around agriculture and gas purchases.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, never one to shy away from controversy, dismissed the deal outright. “This is not an agreement. Donald Trump ate Ursula von der Leyen for breakfast,” he quipped, accusing the European Commission of weakness.
Even economic analysts were sceptical. “This is appeasement, not strategy,” said Julian Hinz of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
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Strategic products, strategic risks
The road to implementation of Sunday's deal remains is fraught with challenges, especially regarding so-called "strategic products".
While talks are ongoing to exempt certain categories – like some generic pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and aviation equipment – the lack of clarity is sowing confusion.
Steel and aluminium face the full 15 percent tariff burden for now, despite their strategic significance to EU industrial policy.
The wine and spirits sector, symbolic of European cultural exports, remains in limbo.
France's Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters said “the next few days will be decisive” and warned of retaliatory measures if negotiations don’t yield a fairer outcome.
Negotiators are now focusing on fine-tuning the so-called “strategic carve-outs”, with a particular eye on pharmaceuticals, where transnational collaboration is vital for public health.
But perhaps the thorniest issue of all is the LNG commitment.
As part of the deal, the EU has agreed to import hundreds of billions of dollars worth of American liquefied natural gas – mostly fracked – over the next several years.
Environmentalists and green policymakers are alarmed, seeing this as a betrayal of the EU’s Green Deal and its pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
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Will the deal ever be fully implemented?
As it stands the EU-US trade framework is, by most expert accounts, little more than a sketch.
Crucially, it’s not legally binding. As Italy’s Meloni observed, “there is still room to fight”.
Any final approval will follow detailed sector-by-sector talks and votes in the European Parliament and Council.
Technical negotiations on exemptions, enforcement mechanisms, and sustainability criteria are likely to continue for months – if not years. Whether all elements, including the politically toxic LNG component, will ever materialise remains highly uncertain.
“This deal is a holding pattern, not a destination,” summarised Jack Allen-Reynolds of Capital Economics. “It buys time, but doesn’t guarantee peace.”
For now, the EU’s gamble is clear – preserve economic stability today, while leaving the door open for renegotiation tomorrow.
