MEP Usakovs calls EU-US agreement on tariffs 'the least possible harm'

RIGA - The agreement on tariffs reached between the European Union (EU) and the United States is the least possible harm, European Parliament member Nils Usakov (Harmony) told LETA.

The MEP noted that EU leaders have no special competence in cooperation with statesmen such as US President Donald Trump or Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who adhere to slightly different negotiating methods and principles than those used in Brussels.

"I am generally reserved as to how successful Brussels' current foreign policy or foreign trade policy towards the US or China is and will be. We will probably have nothing to be proud of for some time," the MEP said.

Commenting on the agreement reached last weekend, Usakovs said that on the one hand, any result negotiated with Washington in these circumstances can be considered a success story, because it could have been much worse. On the other hand, no one can be sure that any agreements that are currently being made with Washington will not be changed again after a while as circumstances change.

"This is certainly not the last time the EU and its leaders have to defend the continent's interests. This means that the EU leaders should broaden their skills to defend these interests more successfully, because Europe is now globally in a completely different world," the MEP said.

As reported, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday struck an accord with US President Donald Trump that will see exports from the bloc subjected to 15 percent tariffs -- but no tariffs for US exports to Europe.

The agreement meant Brussels staved off a threat from Trump to hit Europe with levies twice as high if no deal was struck by August 1.

But it still drew stinging criticism from some European capitals and industries who accused the EU of giving in too easily to the US leader.