13 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

BUT the EU and its nation member governments are not part of any such investments. Investments will be open to private enterprise funding that cannot be compelled by the EU governments. That is free enterprise.

Wouldn't such investment opportunities already be in place without this trade agreement? 

Given a potential crashing American economy, those investments might better find opportunities within the EU, Asia and Africa.

 

So basically a "Nothing Burger."

 

Yes, agree. The EU leaders cannot force this investment "deal" onto any country in Europe, so what on earth Ursula has agreed to here, is mind boggling.

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Great job Don.

 

And everyone who voted Brexit. 

How the Brexit comes in here?

This needs to be addressed with regard to Trump's tariff pressure strategy:

 

16 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

 

We are discussing this 15% tariff from EU to the US, of which US consumers and companies will have to pay for, and what the result will be on that. That's only one direction.

 

The EU has zero tariff on a lot of US products brought to Europe, and is not changing their stand on that, or their tariffs.

Neither has Australia, and now we're getting charged up to 200% on certain items

55 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

So consumers are winning because they can't afford the things they would prefer to buy?

 

I didn't say they were winning, I just said that's what some will do and it will hit EU exporters. 

 

18 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

How the Brexit comes in here?

 

Because it ensured us lower tariffs than the EU obviously. 

30 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

 

We are discussing this 15% tariff from EU to the US, of which US consumers and companies will have to pay for, and what the result will be on that. That's only one direction.

 

The EU has zero tariff on a lot of US products brought to Europe, and is not changing their stand on that, or their tariffs.

 

Yes you are ignoring that the EU imposes strict tariffs on other countries just as the US is doing to the EU.

 

And who pays those tariffs?

More tariff smoke and mirrors - plenty of time for the nitty gritty to fall apart but at least Aug 1st bigger tariff avoided for now.

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes you are ignoring that the EU imposes strict tariffs on other countries just as the US is doing to the EU.

 

And who pays those tariffs?

It's a lie. 

 

Apart from a few exceptions, it's 1.33% on average.

https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/euu/european-union/tariff-rates

 

Oh and there's no Buying European Act

 

UK probably charges as much as the EU.

45 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

Yes, that is why there are no winners in this tariff nonsense. Tariffs means higher prices on EU products sold in America, which of course consumers pay for, and as a result of that, the EU exports will be declining to the US. EU will look for other markets to compensate.

 

I'm baffled when Trump says the tariffs "are going to make Americans so rich, that they won't know what to do with all the money"..

His brain has shrunk, he has completely lost it.

 

The man is indeed terminally stupid with no curiosity or insight into anything that doesn't involve increasing his own personal airtime or wealth. He's the worst kind of human being. A child in an adult body and a prole with money. He and his 'administration' - I use the term in its broadest sense here, as a noun not a verb - are an ethical, moral and intellectual vacuum. But he's lying here as well and he knows it. It's his MO. Most Americans will lose but they voted for him so I have zero sympathy.

 

Sadly the ones behind Trump are far more intelligent and methodical. They are already so rich they can buy up the entire country, its government, parties, justice system, media. Practically everything.

 

Trump is just a distraction from the real game being played in open view. A political sleight of hand that continues to be very successful. It's the US version of Putin. And the crowds turn to him for supposed security thinking he'll be OK with them and only hurt the 'others'. Just like the Russians did to Putin.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

"What's in Trump's trade deal with Europe?"

https://www.reuters.com/

• Also part of the EU and US deal not mentioned in this article is that European companies are to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the course of Trump's second term.
• Europe's $600 billion investment pledge is based on the combined investment intentions expressed by European companies.

BUT the EU and its nation member governments are not part of any such investments. Investments will be open to private enterprise funding that cannot be compelled by the EU governments. That is free enterprise.

Wouldn't such investment opportunities already be in place without this trade agreement? 

Given a potential crashing American economy, those investments might better find opportunities within the EU, Asia and Africa.

 

So basically a "Nothing Burger."

 

 

57 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

Yes, agree. The EU leaders cannot force this investment "deal" onto any country in Europe, so what on earth Ursula has agreed to here, is mind boggling.

It's just cosmetic.

 

European (not only EU) FDI in the U.S. increased by $204.7 billion in 2024, with around 2/3 from EU countries.

https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/direct-investment-country-and-industry-2024

 

So $600 billion over 4 years is around what EU companies would have invested anyway.

 

Similar assessment for military procurements.  EU countries are unable on short term to produce themselves the military equipment they need to reach their objectives (member states' budget + help to Ukraine). They would have likely spent it anyway.

Trump will not honor it anyway. It is all smoke on both sides.

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes you are ignoring that the EU imposes strict tariffs on other countries just as the US is doing to the EU.

 

And who pays those tariffs?

You should read up on this matter.

53 minutes ago, thaibreaker said:

You should read up on this matter.

 

It was a rhetorical question.

 

Maybe you should read up on the trade barriers and regulations the EU uses to protect it's industries. Or the way they tried to bully/screw Britain when they voted to leave their corrupt, protectionist racket.

 

Personally I'm happy to see the EU get a taste of their own medicine. Thanks Donald. 

54 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

It was a rhetorical question.

 

Maybe you should read up on the trade barriers and regulations the EU uses to protect it's industries. Or the way they tried to bully/screw Britain when they voted to leave their corrupt, protectionist racket.

 

Personally I'm happy to see the EU get a taste of their own medicine. Thanks Donald. 

More disinformation from you. 

 

Uk applies around the same average tariff as the EU. 

 

Non-tariffs barriers are also similar in UK, ex. Food regulations, own certification, etc...

 

https://www.theglobalstatistics.com/uk-import-duty-tariff/

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

It was a rhetorical question.

 

Maybe you should read up on the trade barriers and regulations the EU uses to protect it's industries. Or the way they tried to bully/screw Britain when they voted to leave their corrupt, protectionist racket.

 

Personally I'm happy to see the EU get a taste of their own medicine. Thanks Donald. 

 

This morning on U.K.  T.V. One of the biggest critics of Brexit begrudgingly admitted that Starmer is now reaping the benefits of Brexit.  Personally I can only think of one disadvantage of leaving the E.u. And that is if we were still a member we would be able to copy Poland and ignore the ECHR rulings and refuse entry of illegal immigration from people who have not intention of interrogating with the native population.

7 hours ago, candide said:

 

It's just cosmetic.

 

European (not only EU) FDI in the U.S. increased by $204.7 billion in 2024, with around 2/3 from EU countries.

https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/direct-investment-country-and-industry-2024

 

So $600 billion over 4 years is around what EU companies would have invested anyway.

 

Similar assessment for military procurements.  EU countries are unable on short term to produce themselves the military equipment they need to reach their objectives (member states' budget + help to Ukraine). They would have likely spent it anyway.

 

 

The EU was already planning to buy enormous amounts of US weapons and gas for obvious reasons. It sounds a bit like the Japan 'deal' - in actuality it's meaningless as Tokyo was quick to point out. But it serves Trump's reality TV narrative of 'governing and gives Fox 'news' something to crow about.

 

16 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Depends on which direction the goods are going.

 

Everyone was celebrating the single market/customs union when the protectionist racket was working. Now someone stood up to it and imposed their own tariffs they cry like babies.😆

 

Karma for the EU. Long overdue. 

 

The EU Single (Internal) market and Customs Union operate efficiently. 

 

The EU - like the UK and the US - is a member of the WTO. Like the UK, the EU abides by WTO rules. Unfortunately, the US has chosen not to. That suggests that if any country (bloc) is guilty of protectionism, it is the US and not the EU (or UK).

 

According to World Bank figures, the average weighted mean tariff rate in 2021 was 1.47% for the US, 1.38% for the EU and 0.74% for the UK. Once again, hardly indicative of protectionism on the part of the EU. (Note: 2021 figures were the latest figures which I could easily find).

 

I'll pre-empt the objection that EU regulation on such niceties as animal welfare and safety standards act as non-tariff barriers by pointing out the obvious fact that EU companies have to abide by these exact same regulations.

 

I don't expect these facts to make a blind bit of difference to your opinion as your irrational, ill-informed hatred of the EU appears to know no bounds.

14 hours ago, Tiger1980 said:

 

This morning on U.K.  T.V. One of the biggest critics of Brexit begrudgingly admitted that Starmer is now reaping the benefits of Brexit.  

 

Indeed he is. It's ironic as he was such a staunch Remainer. I hope he shows both gratitude and humility, but I doubt it. 

 

14 hours ago, Tiger1980 said:

 

 

Personally I can only think of one disadvantage of leaving the E.u. And that is if we were still a member we would be able to copy Poland and ignore the ECHR rulings and refuse entry of illegal immigration from people who have not intention of interrogating with the native population.

 

Reform will leave the ECHR. These things take time. Since Brexit we've had 2 useless governments actively trying to undermine British interests. Both have failed to take advantage of the opportunity Brexit provides. Reform will see to that.

 

8 hours ago, RayC said:

 

The EU Single (Internal) market and Customs Union operate efficiently. 

 

The EU - like the UK and the US - is a member of the WTO. Like the UK, the EU abides by WTO rules. Unfortunately, the US has chosen not to. That suggests that if any country (bloc) is guilty of protectionism, it is the US and not the EU (or UK).

 

According to World Bank figures, the average weighted mean tariff rate in 2021 was 1.47% for the US, 1.38% for the EU and 0.74% for the UK. Once again, hardly indicative of protectionism on the part of the EU. (Note: 2021 figures were the latest figures which I could easily find).

 

I'll pre-empt the objection that EU regulation on such niceties as animal welfare and safety standards act as non-tariff barriers by pointing out the obvious fact that EU companies have to abide by these exact same regulations.

 

I don't expect these facts to make a blind bit of difference to your opinion as your irrational, ill-informed hatred of the EU appears to know no bounds.

The latest number is an average of 1.28% import tariff in UK, so about the same as the EU 1.33%. Other non-tariff barriers re. health and safety, environment, etc... are still quite similar between EU and UK.

https://www.theglobalstatistics.com/uk-import-duty-tariff/

9 hours ago, RayC said:

 

The EU Single (Internal) market and Customs Union operate efficiently. 

 

The EU - like the UK and the US - is a member of the WTO. Like the UK, the EU abides by WTO rules. Unfortunately, the US has chosen not to. That suggests that if any country (bloc) is guilty of protectionism, it is the US and not the EU (or UK).

 

According to World Bank figures, the average weighted mean tariff rate in 2021 was 1.47% for the US, 1.38% for the EU and 0.74% for the UK. Once again, hardly indicative of protectionism on the part of the EU. (Note: 2021 figures were the latest figures which I could easily find).

 

I'll pre-empt the objection that EU regulation on such niceties as animal welfare and safety standards act as non-tariff barriers by pointing out the obvious fact that EU companies have to abide by these exact same regulations.

 

I don't expect these facts to make a blind bit of difference to your opinion as your irrational, ill-informed hatred of the EU appears to know no bounds.

Well said. 

And you are right, of course we're not getting through to these people. All you get is a thumb down 😂