EU Trade Deal Not Linked to Military Support for Ukraine, Says Von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has denied claims that Europe accepted an imbalanced trade agreement with the United States due to concerns over Washington’s military support for Ukraine, reports 24brussels.
“There is no linkage between the two,” von der Leyen stated confidently during a press conference in Finland on Friday. When questioned about the impact of the security situation on the trade deal, she emphasized that business stability was the primary focus.
This assertion stands in contrast to remarks from her trade chief, Maroš Šefčovič, who stated after negotiating the deal in July that the agreement was also “about Ukraine.”
Von der Leyen’s comments could be viewed as a critique of senior EU trade official Sabine Weyand, who referred to security concerns as the “backdrop” for the trade negotiations earlier this week.
The trade deal, which involves the EU conceding access to its markets while accepting increased tariffs on certain exports, has sparked significant criticism throughout Europe. Despite this backlash, von der Leyen defended the agreement with Donald Trump, characterizing it as beneficial, albeit not flawless. In her remarks in Finland, she highlighted that the establishment of a unified 15% tariff for most EU exports to the US, including automobiles and pharmaceuticals, positions Europe more favorably compared to other trading partners of America.
