Donald Trump Is Pushing Europe Into Asia's Embrace
Donald Trump has called the EU a “foe” and advised British prime minister Theresa May to sue the rest of the bloc over Brexit. The U.S. president has already levied tariffs on European steel, and is threatening to do the same on lots of other products, including cars. So it’s hardly a surprise that Europe’s leaders are turning eastward in search of new allies.
This week, the EU has signed a landmark trade deal with Japan, known as JEFTA, which will make it easier for European food producers to sell their products into Japan while further opening up European markets to Japanese carmakers. There was also a rapprochement with Beijing. For the first time since 2015, the yearly EU-China summit ended with a joint statement, as well as progress toward a bilateral investment treaty.
The deal between the EU and Japan is one of history’s largest trade agreements. The two economic blocs have enjoyed strong political relations for years and share similar positions on trade.
For all the differences between the EU and China, Trump’s bruising approach will encourage the mending of bridges between adversaries. The friendlier outcome from the EU-China summit shows this.
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-07-19/donald-trump-is-pushing-europe-into-asia-s-embrace