A senior figure within the European Union’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) parliamentary group has voiced concerns regarding the recently concluded EU-US trade agreement. Sepp Müller, in statements to RTL and ntv broadcasters, acknowledged the achievement of a deal but expressed dissatisfaction with its terms.
“It’s positive that we’ve reached an outcome, but the result is not satisfactory” Müller stated. He specifically cited the percentages of tariffs the EU will be obligated to pay as “counterproductive for our economy” and called for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to revisit and renegotiate aspects of the agreement.
Beyond the trade deal, Müller also advocated for the implementation of a digital tax targeting foreign media companies. He emphasized the EU’s considerable market power, comprised of over 400 million consumers, arguing for a strong and assertive European stance. “We represent an economic force and Donald Trump needs to understand that. Xi Jinping in China needs to understand it too” he asserted.
Müller further explained that the digital tax is crucial not only to safeguard European media from competition from American and Chinese social media platforms, but also to offset potential revenue losses stemming from shifts in trade policy. He stressed the need for the EU to proactively address these economic challenges and secure its financial interests.
