U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday that they had reached a trade deal under which the U.S. would impose a baseline tariff of 15 percent on European Union goods.

The announcement was made at a joint press briefing Sunday afternoon following trade talks at the Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire, Scotland.

Although both leaders described the deal as a step toward restoring "trade balance" and promoting more equitable two-way commerce, the agreement allows the U.S. to impose a broad 15 percent tariff on EU goods while securing zero-tariff access for a range of strategic American exports. In contrast, the EU has pledged to purchase $750 billion worth of American energy and commit an additional $600 billion in investments in the U.S.

At the press briefing, Trump claimed the agreement would enable American cars to re-enter the European market and make U.S. agricultural exports more accessible in the EU. He also said that pharmaceuticals were excluded from the agreement, while existing 50 percent tariffs on EU steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. will remain in place.

However, at a separate press briefing, von der Leyen clarified that the EU and the U.S. had agreed to include pharmaceuticals under the 15 percent tariff framework. She did not rule out the possibility of further U.S. trade actions in the future.

When asked whether a 15-percent tariff for EU carmakers – up from 2.5 percent under the Biden administration – was a favorable outcome, von der Leyen responded that prior to this agreement, European vehicles faced a total tariff of 27.5 percent when entering the U.S. market. This included a 25-percent levy imposed during Trump's previous term in addition to the original 2.5 percent. The new 15 percent rate, she argued, represents a reduction from that level.

Prior to the agreement, over 70 percent of EU exports to the U.S. were subject to tariffs, including 50 percent on steel and aluminum, 25 percent on automobiles and parts, and a 10-percent duty on most other goods. Trump had warned that if no deal was reached by August 1, the 10 percent tariff would be raised to 30 percent.

Deal 'unsatisfactory' and 'imbalanced'

Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, criticized the newly reached deal as "unsatisfactory" and "significantly imbalanced," warning that it could undermine the EU's economic stability and job security.

"This is a deal with a slant. Clearly, concessions have been made that are difficult to bear," Lange said in a statement on Sunday.

The 15 percent tariff rate, he noted, would represent a fourfold increase over current average levels, while the EU would commit to zero tariffs on U.S. goods.

Lange noted that while Trump publicly declared a blanket 15 percent tariff during remarks following the talks, he had earlier explicitly excluded certain sectors, including steel and pharmaceuticals.

He added that increased European purchases of U.S. energy, particularly liquefied natural gas, were anticipated, as the EU continues efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian fossil fuels.

However, Lange criticized the $600 billion in planned additional investments, including increased funding for U.S. military technology, calling such measures contrary to European economic interests. He likened the pressure tactics used in the deal to those Washington employed in recent negotiations with Japan.

"Overall, this deal will contribute to weakening the EU's economic development and harming its gross domestic product," he said.

(With input from Xinhua)