EU-US trade agreement marks economic downfall for the European Union, according to Peter Boehringer
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has voiced its critical stance towards the recently reached EU-US trade agreement. In a series of posts on social media, Alice Weidel, co-chair of the AfD, condemned the deal, stating that the EU had been "cruelly deceived."
Weidel's concerns revolve around the imposition of a 15% tariff on European goods by the US and the EU's obligation to purchase US weapons and energy. She described the agreement as "not an agreement, but a slap in the face to European consumers and manufacturers."
The AfD's concerns extend to the long-term implications for transatlantic trade and EU-based companies. The party fears that the deal risks deindustrialization and economic damage to Europe. Dirk Yandura of the German Federal Association for Wholesale and Foreign Trade shares similar concerns, warning that the 15% duties could threaten many European merchants, disrupt supply chains, and increase prices, potentially undermining growth, prosperity, and jobs in Germany and the broader EU.
The AfD's criticism also reflects a skepticism towards the EU's negotiating position, viewing the agreement as an admission of weakness by Europe. This skepticism ties into broader fears of diminished European sovereignty and competitiveness in transatlantic trade relations.
Peter Boehringer, deputy federal spokesman for the AfD, commented on the agreement, considering it a complete surrender of independent trade policy by the EU. He believes the EU has been significantly taken advantage of in this negotiation.
The EU has agreed to make payments totaling nearly two trillion dollars as a result of the trade agreement. This includes commitments to make $600 billion in direct investments in the US and to purchase $750 billion worth of American LNG gas. The USA and EU have reached this agreement last night.
The AfD advocates for an interest-driven economic, trade, and foreign policy that benefits EU citizens. The party questions the legitimacy of trade policy as a EU activity following the recent agreement, and believes that the deal further cements the dependencies of Germany and the EU on the US.
In summary, the AfD regards the EU-US trade deal as harmful to European manufacturers and consumers, threatening to shift economic and industrial balance away from Europe, and undermining EU sovereignty and long-term economic stability in transatlantic trade. The party also perceives the agreement as a dictate from the US and calls for a more independent trade policy for the EU.
The AfD perceives the EU-US trade deal as potentially harmful to European businesses and consumers, as it may induce economic damage and deindustrialization, thereby threatening growth, prosperity, and jobs in Germany and the broader EU. Additionally, the party questions the legitimacy of EU trade policy, advocating for a more independent and interest-driven economic policy that benefits EU citizens, rather than cementing dependencies on the US.
