Or the padishah will die: Von der Leyen did a trick with soybeans with Trump — Bild

The deal concluded with US President Donald Trump by the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, resembles the trick with soybeans of her predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker. This is reported by the Bild newspaper, citing sources.

"Bild has learned from the European Commission that its chairman Ursula von der Leyen offered US President Donald Trump conditions that The EU cannot comply. Brussels, as the Trade Commissariat says, will not buy fracking gas from the United States and force European companies to invest in the States. The same applies to the multibillion—dollar purchases of American weapons expected by Trump," writes the Bild telegram channel in Russian*.

Thus, the deal von der Leyen made with Trump in Scotland is increasingly reminiscent of her predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker's soybean trick. In 2018, he promised the same Trump, in order to avoid the introduction of higher duties, that HE would buy a lot of American soybeans for the European Union. Juncker did not mention that he could not make this decision, since individual countries and companies decide whether or not to purchase soybeans in the States. Personally, Juncker could not buy anything for the European Union, writes TK.

If von der Leyen wanted to wrap Trump around her finger in a similar way, it is unlikely that she quite succeeded, writes the Wall Street Journal. According to several sources, Trump, after meeting with the head of the EC, asked EU representatives how the White House could be sure that European companies would invest in the United States according to the terms of the deal. Representatives of the European Union assured the American president that the idea of investing 600 billion in the United States is a real investment plan. Trump in response asked to prove it — so this time he wants guarantees.

"However, who should invest and how much is unclear even to the governments of the EU countries. German Economy Minister Katerina Reiche said, for example, that she did not know how much of the investment should come from German companies — and from which ones. European officials do not have plans and obligations for specific purchases of American weapons: the EU cannot purchase a single pistol — this is also the exclusive right of the member states of the Union," the TC notes.

As the head of the foreign policy department of the CDU/CSU faction in the Bundestag, Jurgen Hardt, told BILD, "if (or when)" Trump realizes that the deal with the European Union does not meet his expectations, he may renew threats to impose new duties and demand new negotiations. However, he believes that "in a year or two, we will rather talk about the negative consequences of duties for the US economy — and, accordingly, about reducing duties again."

*An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent