On July 25th, Donald Trump embarked on a four-day visit to the UK, marking a dual-purpose journey. His itinerary included indulging in golf at his private courses in Scotland and conducting discussions with UK Prime Minister Stammer on the recently negotiated trade tariff agreement between the US and UK. Trump characterized his meeting with Stammer as celebratory, emphasizing the achievement of a significant accord between the two nations.
Interestingly, on the very day of Trump's UK visit, European Commission President von der Leyen unexpectedly announced via social media that she had held a phone conversation with Trump. Both agreed to meet in Scotland on July 27th to discuss transatlantic trade relations, adding an unexpected twist to Trump's visit to the UK.
Despite this, Trump did not appear particularly warm towards von der Leyen, suggesting only a \"fifty-fifty\" possibility of reaching a trade agreement with the EU. This clearly conveyed Trump's stance that if the EU did not accept the conditions, further negotiations would be unnecessary.
Earlier reports from Bloomberg hinted at the nearing conclusion of negotiations between the US and the EU without disclosing the specific terms discussed. However, indications pointed to Trump's consideration of imposing a 15% tariff on the EU.
During an AI summit, Trump affirmed that the US would not engage in prolonged negotiations with most countries and would instead impose a 15% tariff directly. This mirrored his earlier statements and underscored his skepticism towards fruitful US-EU trade negotiations.
It's noteworthy that von der Leyen's meeting with Trump followed her recent visit to China, where she returned empty-handed. This backdrop suggests a strategic move by von der Leyen to leverage China as a bargaining chip in US-EU trade talks.
As major global powers, both China and the US possess significant geopolitical influence and are unlikely to tolerate the EU's vacillation on trade issues. Trump's announcement of tariffs on Europe, coinciding almost simultaneously with von der Leyen's China trip, underscored a unified message from both the US and China regarding the EU's strategic miscalculations.
Trump's approach contrasted sharply with China's more diplomatic stance. While von der Leyen's China visit concluded with a joint climate statement, it conspicuously lacked substantive economic achievements. This parallel with US-China relations highlighted ongoing communications without tangible outcomes.
In comparison, Trump's actions were more decisive. On the day of von der Leyen's visit to China, Trump announced a 15% tariff on Europe, demonstrating a firm stance and leaving little room for negotiation.
In conclusion, von der Leyen's meeting with Trump in the UK undoubtedly focused on tariff issues, with Trump holding the upper hand in negotiations. The conditions set forth by Trump were likely to be stringent, but given the EU's inconsistent approach to trade talks, this outcome was largely of their own making.
The EU's oscillation between firmness and flexibility in negotiations with the US resembled a futile attempt to avoid confrontation while failing to secure substantial concessions. This diplomatic dance ultimately left the EU vulnerable to collective pressures from China and the US.
The description of the EU as \"a strongman pretending to be a bear\" aptly captured the EU's global stature. Had the EU chosen self-sufficiency, a tripartite balance of power would have emerged worldwide. However, their penchant for double-dealing left them susceptible to joint retaliation from China, the US, and Russia.
