Majority of Europeans think EU-US trade deal is a 'humiliation', new poll shows

A mostly of Europeans deliberation nan EU-US waste and acquisition woody is simply a "humiliation" for nan bloc and want Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, its eventual negotiator, to resign arsenic a result, a caller canvass has found.

The study was conducted by investigation patient Cluster17 exclusively for Le Grand Continent and published connected Tuesday morning, a time earlier von der Leyen is group to present her State of nan European Union reside successful Strasbourg.

It was carried retired betwixt 30 August and 4 September among 5,302 group successful nan 5 largest personnel states: Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland.

The findings build connected nan aggravated backlash that has permeated nan governmental and media sermon since nan woody was announced in precocious July.

Under nan agreement, which is already successful effect, nan immense mostly of EU-made equipment bound for nan US marketplace are taxable to a 15% tariff, while nan immense mostly of US-made equipment bound for nan EU marketplace are exempt from duties.

A prime group of products, specified arsenic aircraft, captious earthy materials and semiconductor equipment, benefits from a "zero-for-zero" scheme. Brussels has yet to person Washington to see wines and spirits, a strategical assemblage for Europeans, successful nan list.

Asked astir nan emotion triggered by nan deal, 52% of respondents successful nan study chose "humiliation", while 22% chose "indifference" and 8% chose "relief".

A meagre 1% opted for "pride".

The emotion of "humiliation" is peculiarly pronounced successful France (65%) and Spain (56%), whereas successful Poland nan astir communal guidance is "indifference" (49%).

A immense mostly of 77% believes nan position of nan woody mostly favour nan American economy, pinch conscionable 13% saying it represents a "compromise" that benefits some sides equally. Only 2% judge it mostly favours nan European economy.

However, erstwhile it comes to nan imaginable effect connected nan ground, opinions diverge: 42% deliberation those "most affected" will beryllium European companies, 27% opportunity American consumers, 19% opportunity European consumers and 4% opportunity nan personnel states.

Von der Leyen nether fire

The blasted for nan lopsided result is put firmly connected nan European Commission, which has exclusive competence to find nan bloc's waste and acquisition policy.

Some 61% find nan Commission "mainly responsible" arsenic opposed to 28% who constituent nan digit astatine personnel states. During talks, capitals voiced their sentiment successful an effort to sway nan process and safeguard their nationalist interests. Experts person noted this not-so-subtle lobbying weakened nan executive's position vis-à-vis nan White House.

Remarkably, 12% of participants deliberation nan European Parliament, which was virtually excluded from nan negotiations, was nan "main responsible" actor.

The study lays bare a strong, across-the-board disapproval towards Ursula von der Leyen, who exchanged respective telephone calls pinch Donald Trump to thrash retired nan position of nan woody until they some met look to look astatine nan extremity of July.

Their brushwood successful Scotland finalised nan statement and instantly unleashed an avalanche of criticism that continues to this day. After days of silence, von de Leyen published an op-ed describing nan woody arsenic "solid yet imperfect".

Asked astir their appraisal of von der Leyen's actions, 75% of respondents judge she defended European interests either "very badly" aliases "rather badly".

A number of 19% deliberation she defended European interests "very well" aliases "rather well".

Similarly, 41% declare to person "no assurance astatine all" successful von der Leyen, followed by 31% who person "not truthful overmuch confidence" and 20% who still person "quite immoderate confidence".

The negativity translates into a whopping 60% of respondents who opportunity they are "very favourable" aliases "rather favourable" to von der Leyen's resignation. The calls for her dismissal are accordant crossed nan 5 polled countries, pinch France taking nan lead.

By contrast, 26% opportunity they are "rather unfavourable" aliases "very unfavourable" to her resignation, while 14% opportunity they do not cognize really they feel.

Another constituent of contention is nan financial pledges that nan Commission made connected behalf of each personnel states. Under nan deal, nan EU has committed to spending $750 cardinal connected American energy, investing $600 cardinal successful nan American system and buying $40 cardinal worthy of American AI chips by nan extremity of Trump's mandate.

Some 76% of respondents reason nan pledges to immoderate degree, and conscionable 17% support them.

At nan aforesaid time, 70% declare to beryllium "ready to boycott" US-made goods.

The outrage expressed by respondents appears to beryllium well-informed: 71% opportunity they person heard astir nan EU-US waste and acquisition woody and "well" understand its content.

It is an bonzer stock fixed that astir policies stemming from Brussels spell either unnoticed aliases misunderstood by nan wide public.

Meanwhile, 26% opportunity they person heard astir nan waste and acquisition deal, but they do not cognize "exactly" what it is about. Only 3% declare to beryllium ignorant astir it.

Finally, 44% of respondents judge Trump is an "enemy" of Europe, 10% opportunity he is simply a "friend", and 44% opportunity he is neither of nan 2 options.

Despite nan wide indignation, 70% want their location state to stay portion of nan EU arsenic opposed to 24% who would for illustration a Brexit-style departure.