US And EU Avert Trade War With 15% tariff Deal

(BBC) The United States and European Union have reached a trade deal framework, ending a months-long standoff between two of the world's biggest economic partners.

After make-or-break negotiations between President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen in Scotland, the pair agreed a US tariff on all EU goods of 15%.

That is half the 30% import tax rate Trump had threatened to implement starting on Friday. He said the 27-member bloc would open its markets to US exporters with zero per cent tariffs on certain products.

Von der Leyen also hailed the deal, saying it would bring stability for both allies, who together account for almost a third of global trade.

Trump has wielded tariffs against major US trade partners in a bid to reorder the global economy and trim the American trade deficit.

As well as the EU, he has struck tariff agreements with the UK, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, although he has not achieved his goal of "90 deals in 90 days".

Sunday's agreement was announced after private talks between Trump and Von der Leyen.