The proposed EU-US trade deal has sparked strong criticism from senior European lawmaker Bernd Lange, who labelled the draft agreement as "unsatisfactory" and "significantly imbalanced." Lange, chair of the European Parliament&rsquo;s Committee on International Trade, warned the deal could destabilise Europe&rsquo;s economy and threaten millions of jobs.
At the core of his concern is a 15% blanket US tariff on EU exports, quadrupling the current average, while the EU agrees to zero tariffs on American goods.
&ldquo;This is a deal with a slant,&rdquo; Lange said, highlighting the disproportionate concessions made by the EU.
US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen jointly announced the deal, hailing it as progress toward &ldquo;restoring trade balance.&rdquo; However, the agreement permits broad US tariffs while locking the EU into massive purchases of US energy and $600 billion in additional US investments, including funding for US military technology.
Lange particularly criticised the latter, calling the investment commitments "contrary to European interests."
He also warned that the strategy mirrors US pressure tactics seen in Japan&rsquo;s trade talks, and ultimately threatens to shrink the EU&rsquo;s GDP and industrial competitiveness.
Despite some exemptions like steel and pharma, the deal has drawn fire for its one-sided benefits, with Lange urging a reassessment before ratification.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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EU Slams US Tariff Deal as Unfair and Harmful

EU lawmaker calls new US trade deal ‘imbalanced’ and warns of threats to jobs, GDP

EU Slams US Tariff Deal as Unfair and Harmful

EU lawmaker calls new US trade deal ‘imbalanced’ and warns of threats to jobs, GDP

July 28, 2025 | 16:24 IST