A new transatlantic trade era begins with a 15% tariff. European business leaders face lasting uncertainty as the US and EU strike a high-stakes deal that averts a full trade war but cements tariffs at levels unseen in nearly a century.
EU and US near trade deal with 15% tariffs. The European Union and the United States are finalising a trade agreement imposing 15% tariffs on most EU exports. Exemptions for aircraft and medical devices are under consideration, but key industries remain affected.
China and the EU clashed on trade and minerals in Beijing. At a shortened one‑day summit, Ursula von der Leyen warned of an “inflection point” in EU–China ties, calling for “rebalancing,” while Xi Jinping urged Europe to make “correct strategic choices” as tariff tensions and minerals dependence took centre stage.
The euro has surged 13% this year, unsettling exporters across Europe. A 10% euro rise can trim corporate profits by as much as 3%. Market watchers warn that further gains may prompt action from the ECB as earnings season begins.
The EU’s eighteenth sanctions package introduces a dynamic oil-price cap. The bloc’s latest measures target Russian oil revenue with a variable price ceiling, new import bans on third-country fuels, and an expanded blacklist of tankers and banks, as markets question the enforcement impact.