Donald Trump has 'exposed EU trade hypocrisy' after tariffs climbdown

Brussels’ sudden decision to shelve retaliatory tariffs on US goods marks a dramatic climbdown in its escalating trade dispute with Washington – and exposes the European Commission’s longstanding hypocrisy on trade. Prominent Brexiteer Lee Rotherham told Express.co.uk: “For too long Brussels has been playing its own game of have-cake-and-eat-it – being protectionist in key sectors while claiming to be a champion of free trade. Donald Trump is calling it out on that charade.”

The Commission announced on Tuesday it would delay a sweeping retaliatory tariff package worth €93 billion (£81bn), which had been set to target US goods ranging from soybeans to cars and whiskey. While Brussels claimed the move was a “pragmatic” step aimed at giving more time to finalise a joint statement with Washington, sceptics see it as a blatant political retreat.

The deferral follows a July 27 meeting between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, and came just days after he signed an executive order keeping in place 25% tariffs on European industrial exports — a measure that sparked fury in Brussels.

Despite that, the EU has opted to hold fire on its own measures, sparking internal backlash. French officials reportedly warned the move could look like “submission,” while EU sources admitted the supposed progress with the US is still fragile, with no clear resolution in sight.

Mr Rotherham, the former special projects director with Vote Leave, who has been dubbed "Dr Brexit", said: “This is a major climbdown by the European Commission, which is facing a determined negotiator.”

Mr Trump has been clear and unapologetic about his stance. Speaking after the meeting with Ms von der Leyen, he said: “We are doing a tremendous job with the EU. They want to negotiate, and we want to negotiate, but it has to be fair.”

He added: “For too long, Europe has taken advantage of the United States with unfair trade practices. We’re just not going to let that happen anymore.”

Meanwhile, Ms von der Leyen sought to present a united front, stating: “We are committed to working constructively with the United States to find balanced solutions that benefit both sides.”

She also said the decision to delay tariffs was “a pragmatic step to create space for dialogue,” emphasising the importance of cooperation in transatlantic trade relations.

The trading relationship between the United States and the European Union is one of the largest and most significant in the world.

Together, they account for nearly half of the world’s GDP and maintain a bilateral trade relationship worth over €1 trillion annually.

The EU is the US’s largest trading partner, while the US is the EU’s biggest single export market. Goods and services flow extensively across the Atlantic, covering sectors from machinery and pharmaceuticals to agriculture and technology.

Despite this deep economic integration, the relationship has been frequently strained by disputes over tariffs, regulatory standards, and trade policies, underscoring the complex balance between cooperation and competition.

The episode highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities in EU-US trade relations, with the bloc caught between protecting its industries and avoiding a full-scale trade war with one of its most important partners.