EU Tells Trump: No Side Deals or Shortcuts on Trade Negotiations

European leaders presented a united front in the US trade war on Friday, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merzsaying individual member states won’t strike side deals and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicating that a concrete proposal is needed for any serious talks with Washington.

The comments underscore the EU’s strategy to stay together and speak with one voice as US President Donald Trump uses the threat of steep tariff hikes to persuade countries to sign bilateral trade deals that would be advantageous to the US. While Trump hailed such a pact with the UK this week as ...