A majority of citizens in the EU’s largest member states believe the bloc surrendered too much in its recent trade agreement with the United States, according to a new survey. The poll found that 77% of respondents across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland thought the deal would primarily benefit the US economy, with only 2% seeing advantages for Europe.
The agreement, signed in July, requires the EU to remove tariffs on US industrial goods while maintaining a 15% baseline tariff on most European exports. It also obliges European countries to increase purchases of US energy, commit to major defence spending, and invest an additional $600bn in the US economy. Many Europeans described the terms as unfair and one-sided.
More than half of respondents labeled the deal a “humiliation,” and three-quarters said the European Commission had failed to defend European interests. Nearly 70% expressed willingness to boycott US products, while sizable portions described Donald Trump as an “enemy of Europe” or accused him of having autocratic tendencies.
The findings highlight widespread dissatisfaction with the EU’s handling of relations with Washington. While strong majorities across the surveyed countries still supported EU membership, over one-third said leaving the bloc should be considered if it fails to protect citizens from geopolitical risks.