The US and EU have struck a trade deal that would impose American tariffs of 15 per cent on most imports from the bloc, Donald Trump said yesterday.
The EU has agreed to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on additional American energy products and weapons as part of the deal, the US president said.
The agreement, which is set to avoid a transatlantic trade war, was struck during a meeting between Trump and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland.
The deal marks a victory for Trump, who has spent months forcing America’s trading partners into bruising negotiations by threatening steep tariffs, although the terms are in line with what Brussels had told EU member states to prepare for.
“This is probably the biggest deal ever reached in any capacity, trade or beyond trade,” Trump said as he announced the agreement.
Trump said the EU would spend an additional $750bn on US energy products, invest $600bn in the US and buy “a vast amount” of American military equipment worth “hundreds of billions of dollars” as part of the deal.
He also said the US would put tariffs of 15 per cent on EU goods, including automobiles, in exchange for the bloc “opening up their countries at zero tariff”.
Trump had threatened to impose 30 per cent tariffs on the EU if no deal had been struck by August 1.
1. strike a deal
词性：动词短语
意思：达成协议、达成交易
语气：略口语化，但在财经、政治新闻中很常见
同义词：reach an agreement / seal a deal
例句：
The two companies struck a deal to share research on electric vehicles.
两家公司达成协议，共享电动车的研究成果。
The government struck a deal with the opposition to pass the budget.
政府与反对派达成协议以通过预算案。
2. steep
词性：形容词（在经济语境中）
意思：（价格或增长）陡峭的、过高的、急剧的
也可作动词（泡茶、浸泡），但在经济或新闻语境中通常是形容词
语境：描述上涨/下降的速度或程度大（常含“令人吃惊”的意味）
例句：
The city is known for its steep housing prices.
这座城市以房价高昂而闻名。
There has been a steep increase in energy costs this winter.
这个冬天能源价格急剧上升。
3. in exchange for
词性：介词短语
意思：作为交换、用……换取
语气：正式、常用于谈判、协议、交易等场合
例句：
The hostages were released in exchange for a ransom.
人质被释放，作为交换获得了一笔赎金。
She gave up her career in exchange for a more peaceful life.
她放弃了事业，换来了更平静的生活。
