Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament, has linked the recent unfavorable trade agreement with the United States to Europe’s perceived military vulnerabilities. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Weber argued that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s leverage in negotiations stemmed from dependencies within the NATO alliance.
“America inherently holds a stronger position when it comes to Europe’s military security” Weber stated. He indicated that this imbalance has negatively impacted Brussels’ negotiating power. While acknowledging that the European Commission has managed to mitigate some of the damage through measures, Weber emphasized the pain inflicted by the new tariffs. A 15 percent tariff on imports from the EU into the United States, he underscored, poses a substantial challenge to the European economy.
Despite the agreement’s drawbacks, Weber’s EPP faction intends to support it within the European Parliament, citing a desire to avoid a trade war with the United States. He stressed, however, that Europe must urgently bolster its sovereignty, specifically advocating for a “Buy European” principle to be prioritized in European defense projects funded with European money. The trade agreement includes commitments for significant European arms purchases from U.S. companies.
Looking ahead to the autumn, Weber announced forthcoming proposals for an economic stimulus package. These proposals are expected to address the revision of regulations concerning internal combustion engines, the development of a European Energy Union, the strengthening of the services sector and European capital markets. Furthermore, the EPP intends to push for the swift ratification of the Mercosur trade agreement with South America, ensuring the interests of farmers are addressed. Weber declared that this would represent a practical response to the imposed U.S. tariffs.
