In the photo' attached to this article, Jean-Claude Juncker looks decidedly uncomfortable as if there is no supper and straight off to bed. Whilst he is quite happy to dish it out to the UK on Brexit he appears not to be able to take it. As I give him my very best Gallic shrug I say "Je suis desolete".
2
The bottom line is: once on American soil, a European should NEVER rely on fairness. Trump's slogan of 'America first' is a reality in day-to-day life. Americans in general tend to become bossy in conflict prone situations with Europeans: power and material things (money) are 'killer' factors.
Well, how fix those conflicts from the European end? First of all, simply, by stopping to flirt with Americans (what top European political leaders tend to do). Gaining respect comes from acting in the spirit of professionalism, only.
Sit down with them at the conference table of international commercial organizations (for instance, World Trade Organization) hammering out solid ground work. Sure, that will take time.
Jungle mungle, however, between Trump and European figures (such as German Chancellor Merkel, France’s Emanuel Macron and lately Juncker) might generate some temporary atmospherical relief without resolving the underlying cultural chasm: firmness is required and a long breath with the decisiveness of saying ‘no’.
1
No one can trust Trump.
3
There's an old, old, old saying here in the States that I'll clean up a bit, that goes:
Wait a minute, it's tough to clean up.
Okay, here goes:
Fool me once, shame on you;
Fool me twice, shame on me.
NATO countries, Eastern Bloc countries, Asian countries, Arab countries, Aussies and Kiwis, listen up and listen hard:
You saw the real Donald Trump at the G-7 conference and the NATO summit. You know him by his friends, you understand him in his priorities, you see him in his unvarnished greed.
I'm sure you'll do the "expedient" thing and then cross your fingers and your toes and maybe your eyes and hope for the best, but, make no mistake...don't trust Trump as far as you can throw him.
Myself, I wouldn't trust him if he told me that the sun rises in the east.
Because I got a hundred bucks that says that if you do decide to play footsie with Trump, there'll come a time when you say, "By gosh and by golly, he fooled me again; shame on me!"
As sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, it'll happen, and you'll have only yourselves to blame.
3
NO, Not today or ANY other day!!
The guy's a loose cannon, mentally ill, and morally corrupt. And that's the least of his problems.
RUN FAST....................
DON'T LOOK BACK........................
3
During the Cuban missile crisis, when our ambassador offered to show General de Gaulle photos of the Russian missiles, de Gaulle turned him down and said that the word of the president of the United States was good enough for him. How far we have fallen!
3
Who needs enemies when you have Trump's USA as friend
3
Can it trust him. No.
6
There's a 'U-Turn' just down this road.
2
Nobody can - or should EVER trust Trump about ANYTHING! You have been warned.
7
Not sure if Trump finally realized his use of fictitious national security tariffs to wage a trade war isn't helping, and he needs to press reset. If he doesn't this agreement to agree isn't going anywhere.
2
I’ve got this one......
No!
DJT has proven that he cannot be trusted on any level.
It really is not that complicated. Past (daily) behavior is all one needs to look at.
If he was trustworthy there would be no Mueller probe, no cohen tapes, no stormy daniels, etc., etc., etc
4
I think the EU are learning how to deal with Trump. Throw him a bone, but make it seem like a really big, juicy bone. Let him brag about it to his supporters then proceed as usual.
It may have worked for North Korea. Next, Iran?
3
No one should ever trust Trump no matter what. Absolutely. He is a pathological liar.
7
No one can trust a flagrant liar.
6
No one should trust Trump. He is corrupt and shameless, a sham artist.
7
What a silly headline. Of course Europe can’t trust Trump. His own wife can’t trust him, why should leaders of countries he has already shown contempt for, accept anything he says?
5
Trump? Trust?! Are you kidding?
5
Europe would be prudent to not trust the man boy that wants to be king instead of a mere "president". After all, according to the latest polls appx 2/3 of the U.S. citizenry don't, so really, why would they?
7
Sure, Europe can trust him... About as far as Angela Merkel can throw a BMW.
7
"I don't really trust him, do u?"
6
Trust Trump? Who in his or her right mind would trust him? I'd rather negotiate with someone from the Mafia.
4
One word: NO!
Known has the Liar in Chief, how can they trust him? How many has he betrayed?
6
Anyone, anywhere, who trusts Trump at this point is simply delusional.
8
This is a BIG WIN for Delusional Donald, right?
He gives up threatening tariffs in return for ... (wait for it) ... negotiations!
He might end up with Obama's TTIP as an agreed solution. In a year or two.
MAJOR WIN, BIGLY. Believe me.
6
@Joe From Boston^^this.^^ . move along; nothing to see here until the negotiations're over. See negotiations w/ KJU for the archetype.
Can Europe trust Donald Trump?
Of course!
You can trust him to betray you, to break every promise, to lie about it and you, to make the worst possible choices for the worst reasons, to threaten and bully you, and to claim everything that isn't perfect is YOUR fault.
You bet you can trust Donald Trump!
(it's just you have to know what you can trust him to do)
6
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/world/europe/donald-trump-us-eu-trade...
The intent of these trade deals is for America and Europe to be happy with both sides of the trade deals. Before Trump,, Obama attempted trade deals in order to strengthen ties between the two nations. The problem is, there are constant problems of arguing and attempting to figure who gets what, and who has the better deal. It appears that both America and Europe are trying to implement their trade deals, but every time they are getting more and more frustrated and nothing is clear. Therefore, it is obvious that both nations must work together and practice communication in order to get these trade deals through, and for the ties between the nations to grow.
The old axiom that any question being asked in a newspaper headline can be answered "no" proves true once again.
Everybody knows that nobody can trust Trump an inch. The European Commission aren't stupid.
5
It cannot any longer be a mystery about how national leaders are learning to deal with Trump. Give him his self-serving photo op, be unquestioning to his inane lies, ignore his declared victory (based on nothing), and, more importantly: Smile.
Basically, act as you would with a dementia patient; just agree, knowing that nothing else matters with him anyway.
Trump's had three major meetings with leaders with no specifics whatsoever, yet he has declared success each time. Surely not hard to figure his M.O. by now.
Good Grief! It's written all over Juncker'e face!
7
Trust Trump. An oxymoron.
7
Nice to know that Juncker cannot by gas or soybeans. That is done by the companies that need it. Juncker has nothing to say about that.
Nice deal....
3
Just ask Canada - the answer is no
4
@Nancy C
And, believe me, we are so, so sorry things have come to such a sorry pass.
Canada has always been a great friend to the US, and, believe me, we will be friends again.
3
Can they trust him? No.
Can we trust him? No.
I seriously don’t even think Ivanka trusts him. And it’s quite clear from her body language that Melania certainly doesn’t.
Republicans don’t trust him. But they get stuff.
Putin doesn’t trust him. But he gets stuff.
5
One day later and still no "correction tweet" - not too bad.
2
The answer is "no" because he is a pathological liar, subject to making up facts whenever it suits him.
4
Under Trump, dealing with the US is like dealing with the Mafia. Nothing good can come from it and those that feel comfortable are other mob bosses who play the same game.
4
Can the EU trust him? Well, let's see. The evidence that we know so far suggests very, very, very strongly that he is in Putin's pocket; he is a habitual liar; he's mentally unstable; he does only what he thinks will benefit him; he has no sense of decency or honor; he's promised to pay workers, then refused to do so after the work is done; and he's a vindictive ignoramus. Can the EU trust him? The more pertinent question is whether the EU secured any kind of binding written contract from him for any promises or terms he's made so that they can hold him accountable internationally in the future?
6
Simple question, do you personally want to make a deal or any deals with Mr. Trump ?
8
I think it's clear by now that Trump's wòrd means nothing.
6
About as much as a black mamba ...
6
Can Europe (or anybody) trust Trump. Throughout Trump's adult life he has never ever for one moment provided any reason to trust him. Only a willing fool would trust Trump. In short, this is Europe's IQ test.
5
This is another example of why trump shouldn't even be in the room. I have no doubt that what he is doing now - if he's really doing it - is what his advisors suggested long ago. But trump has to take two pounds of flesh out of everyone first. He has to bully, belittle and bait everyone who is actually on the same side. All the political damage that has been done is done. The economic damage may be somewhat ameliorated, but decades of good relationships have suffered permanent harm because of this man's overwhelming need for self-glorification at the expense of the American people - and people in the rest of the world. And he has no right to hurt them.
5
"Trust" Trump?
The man has five bankruptcies and three marriages!
He's never been true to his word and theres no indication he has changed.
What IS clear is that he is losing his ability to differentiate between fact and fiction, which is not surprising as he is the oldest person to ever have occupied the Oval Office.
5
The question is wrongly worded. It should be "Should The EU trust Trump?"
His personal and business history are filled with big red warning signs. Were Trump to arrive at my house for a chat I would make coffee and never leave him alone for a second. He is about as trustworthy as any 2-year-old left alone in the kitchen for 5 minutes.
All joking aside. Trump got want he wanted and set out to get. That was gifting his friends billions of dollars and force Mom & Pop farmers to sell to the corporate farmers.
Common on! Do you really think this 'Trade-war has anything to do with bringing jobs back to the USA? If so, there's a famous bridge in New York I can sell to you!
The companies that have moved elsewhere for manufacturing are pleased enough where they are. The employees show up and do their jobs in less time with less problems. Moving production and manufacturing is cost intense and those manufacturing centers are gleaming in the sun. It is called the rust belt for a reason.
Trump may have run as a lark, never thinking once he would get elected but he did know he would have fun trolling Hillary. Then he won. Trump has also never been known to look a gift horse in the mouth. He is doing what comes naturally to him. He is a con-man and snakeoil salesman. He is good, really very good at that. Don't believe me? Look where it has gotten him.
5
Absolutely, the Donald is the most trustworthy human in the history of trustworthiness!
4
Incredible! The President is on the
verge of successfully negotiating what amounts to be a free trade no barriers deal with the EU and this newspaper, on the verge of losing its argument that Trump's trade tactics will ruin the nation's economy, possibly world trade, now throws in the "trust" argument so as not to look too silly. After all, the editors figure, they'll never lose the argument as long as Trump has the capacity to break this fantastic deal.
I mean this is really ridiculous. Its like an anti visiting team baseball announcer saying, as the guy who just hit a home run and is heading for home plate: "well, he might decide to head back round the bases"!
Give us all a break!
2
@Ross Stuart
Trump changes his mind on everything every couple hours.
3
@Joe Runciter a bit over the top Joe. But as they say about brokers and stock pickers: "Past history is no assurance of future performance"!
Name ONE person that has ever trusted Trump that has not regretted it.... sorry, but I'm drawing a blank on that one...
5
Can any rational person trust a con artist? Tomorrow is another day in Trump World, Europe, when the urgency of today is already forgotten and passé.
5
What a stupid question. No one can trust Trump, not the people who have worked for him, not the women he's been married to and certainly not anyone doing business with him.
6
Are you serious? Trump's (third) wife couldn't even trust him not to sleep with porn stars while she was pregnant.
9
No one can trust the US with so much unsecured electronic voting and the Electoral College. We schooled the world on how note to vote for a President.
6
Let’s be clear. When farmers lose their farms, they will be bought out by big agribusiness.
8
The trend is positive today, but the rolling average of Trump’s position on US-EU trade still points to more tariffs. Let’s not get carried away, he might wake up in a bad mood, Fox News or Bolton might talk him out of it, etc.
5
I suspect Europe is just buying time until sanity returns to Washington. Give some attention to Trump by making small concessions on minor things and he might go away and tweet at someone else. Who knew four years could be such a long time?
3
Trump's history, both in business and in politics, make it a fool's errand to trust him. Although some of this week's news may firm up a perception of trust within Trump's relatively small political base in the US, he has wrought irreversible damage to the US position in the international market place. Beyond whatever agreements he and Mr. Juncker agree(d) to, trust in anything the US government can influence is waning and will be for the duration of the Trump kleptocracy.
4
Quite funny, if Trump's long-time personal lawyer(Cohen)recorded some of their conversations because he knew he couldn't trust Trump why possibly would the EU? They know what Trump is like and his history and all it will take is someone who says something about him he doesn't like, ultimately, him throwing out a bunch of tweets and it will be "game over' and back to square one in the trade wars.
All of this is to try to lower the vitreol and proceed the way it should have been done in the first place, negotiation , NOT intimidation. What happens going forward, remains to be seen.
There also could be a situation that if Trump were to escalate further by implementing auto tariffs on imported cars, waiting in the wings is a $300 BILLION dollar across the board group of tariffs the EU would implement against a variety of U.S products which I am sure the American business community would not be favorable to.
3
Trust is not a lexicon in Trump dictionary. He chooses disruption and destruction as a way to show "leadership". Look at N.K. If things reverse to situation as before, he simple claim he did wonderful job. As to trade, whatever damages made, just forget them. Someone else will pick up the bill, like the taxpayers to pay the farmers' loss, as long as they may not hurt him reelection.
3
"..the commitment by Mr. Trump and Mr. Juncker to work together to overhaul the World Trade Organization, especially given the rising power of China."
If, IF, this ends up being the case, better late than never. This should have been the starting point in Trump's strategy, if he ever had one.
There is many a slip twixt the cup and the lip. One tweet from Trump and it's back to square one.
1
The only thing worse than fighting Trump is negotiating with him. If you show any sign of weakness, he will pounce, call you "weak" and demand more concessions. The best way to deal with him is to be firm. I think the idea of demanding removal of the aluminum and steel tariffs before having serious talks is valid. Already, the farmers and carmakers in the US are feeling the effects of tariffs. Let Trump sweat this one out for a while and call his bluff on the car tariffs. There will be some pain in the short-term, but if you give in, you will regret it.
6
Xi knows the Achilles of this man's tariff against China, soybeans. Donald gets soft on united EU to assuage his base in the soybean states. Gets some markets for US genetically engineered soybeans to EU. In return EU preserves global market. If Donald keeps thrashing EU, EU will contemplate seriously China as market. The latter will gladly welcome them. China has so much dollars to spend. It's global economy. No one is an island. Donald is stuck on a WW II post war economy of the 1950's and isolating USA. USA has the greatest economy but Donald keeps throwing Orwellian red meat lies to his base.
6
The European car industry is not just Germany. There are plenty of manufacturers in France, Italy, the UK and Sweden.
Some of them are producing iconic cars. Leaving these countries out and focussing on Germany is not appropriate.
Who would trust Trump? I think there is no reason to trust him. He has proved often enough that he is no gentleman. His opinion du jour is unpredictable, since almost always not based on facts. As soon as he needs a new diversion these tariffs will be on the table again, even if they damage the U. S. economy as well, since retaliatory tariffs will be imposed.
We have to hope for the best - and prepare for the worst.
4
Q. Europe Averts a Trade War With Trump. But Can It Trust Him?
A. Yes, as much as his former lawyer, a certain Mr Cohen, can trust him.
2
600 billion in trade deficit and export of millions of American jobs... that is the disaster Trump policies will end.
Of course the socialist free riders in the EU want the current unfair and anti American trading system to continue.
The irony is that when the EU soon agrees to equal and fair treatment of American goods.... the biggest winners next to American workers will be the foreign citizens , especially the poor, who will have access to competitive American goods and services!
@obummer the "export of millions of jobs " can be blamed on the decisions of corporate America, who have been consistently reducing their share of taxes paid to the US Government while enjoying the lowest EFFECTIVE taxes in generations.
This exportation is simply the result of free market capitalism, and the hypocrisy of Republican/Conservative whining about the inevitable result is comical
1
Can Europe Trust Trump? Very good question.
Trump recognizes no moral, political or strategic commitments. He feels free to pursue objectives without regard to the effect on allies and the world. He has no sense of responsibility to anything beyond himself.
Trump’s finger is to the wind, always. If prevailing winds of at least 2/3 of the U.S. feel strongly about something, Trump will change his position - on any topic.
Just one example: For over a year U.S. intelligence agencies have briefed Trump on how Russia hacked democratic computers to sway the election. Two weeks ago, a U.S. grand jury indicted 12 Russian military officers on charges they hacked Democratic party computers, stole their data and published those files to disrupt our 2016 election.
Trump's response last Monday? 'We’re all to blame. Mueller's probe is a disaster for our country. I don’t see any reason why Russia is to blame, but I sure want to see the server.'
Then, after seeing how his base reacted viscerally against his remarks, Trump reads a statement saying he meant to say he doesn't see why the hacking "wouldn't be Russia," then adding the hacking "could be other people also."
Classic Trump. He says what he believed, then, finger to the wind, reads a fake correction of what he meant to say, while with every gesture, advertises that he doesn't believe a word of what he's saying.
How can anyone trust anything such a person says?
Donald Trump does not deserve to be leader of our country.
12
There is little doubt that Mr. Trump fits the classic definition of a psychopath. Well that would certainly not be a personal choice on his part, it is what it is. Accordingly, other than swallowing the poison of personal resentments he lives entirely in the present moment. He does what he believes is good for him, and him only, and is hindered neither by the constraints of empathy nor compassion. Agreements that he makes our valid for the moment only and only when he can see personal gain.
Under such circumstances there is little reason to rejoice at what might appear to be a resolution to a current problem. To Mr. Trump the resolution was then and there, but it is now here and now and what has happened in the past is of little consequence and certainly not something by which he must abide.
3
You did not give any examples of anyone being concerned that Trump can't be trusted. So its only the NY TIMES that has this concern. Trump does what he says and millions of people trust him and voted for him BECAUSE they trust him. If he couldn't be trusted, no one would sign a contract with him or work for him. And he has signed thousands of contracts and has thousands of employees and vendors that trust him.
@Patrick McCord-sir, it is this kind of blindness that allows Trump to get away with his constant lying and cheating. Trump has a long history of stiffing his contractors, investors, banks, and many, many others. Trump University ring a bell?
Before you type such foolishness, do just a little digging.
Here are a couple to get you started.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trumps-business-plan-left-a-trail-of...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/25/contractor-claims-trump-compa...
2
@Patrick McCord
Let's chat with Melania, shall we? Let's ask her how she likes the fact that Trump was in bed with a porn star (maybe more than one, who knows) shortly after Melania gave birth to Trump's most recent son.
2
We need to remind ourselves that president Trump takes orders from his Russian handler and Putin. It is very clear to me that Putin’s goals are to split Americans from each other, split the USA from Europe and split European from each other.
So far Putin is wining this war and I my trust for Mr. Trump is less than zero.
Let’s check again in a month to find out where we are.
4
The simple, but not simplistic, answer is NO! With Donald Trump we all know that we should "Never even bother to trust him." Only Vladimir Putin had grounds for the U.S. to have a "trade war" with our "foe" in Europe. This looks like a smoke screen being orchestrated to "walk back" and coverup the immense damage the Donald Trump's betrayal of our fundamental democratic institutions while bowing to Russian Federation President and dictator, Vladimir Putin. But, the fire burns ever brighter the more he tries to conceal it, and all trust has literally gone up in smoke. What's left for all, including the E.U., is to verify, verify, VERIFY.
2
This crisis, like so many others during this administration, began with Donald Trump. He has not resolved a problem; he simply returned us to where we were before he triggered the problem.
4
"Europe averts a trade war with Trump. But can it trust him?"
Their situation reminds me of mine with a fickle girl a long time ago: "Whatever it is today, tomorrow it will be something else".
If I were Europe I would never trust another GOP President again. They are ready to get NATO and American Democratic sons and daughters into a big war. They will buy their kids and family out of military obligations like Trump got himself out of the military. Plus since 1945 there has been a major Republican recession in every GOP Presidency so they are horrible business people. Look at Wall Street a few weeks ago says Trumps looking at his major recession soon. Europe understands climate damage is happening and are active to save the planet these GOP are supporting coal and continued use of these dangerous fuels so at least the Democrats are more in line with saving our planet like the Europeans. I would never trust another GOP local or national.
2
To steal some phrases from the far right, this announcement is a "nothing burger". Trump and the EU have agreed to kick Trump's "can down the road" (with such an obvious pun who could resist).
Of course they'll agree in principal to buy farmer Trump's soy beans for cattle, pig and poultry feed at a discount. Trump bought up the now excess beans to prevent their being plowed under next month. And of course, in true Trump fashion, he did that with somebody else's money, ours. The longer the Europeans delay the cheaper the beans will get.
Not a farmer, but grew up in a farm town.
1
Trump's usual formula:
1) Blame someone for something.
2) Start a conflict.
3) "Negotiate"
4) Reduce belligerence.
4) Claim victory and credit.
It's the same every time.
5
It’s so nice to see the children getting along well again. There is enough room in the sandbox for everyone after all. That is until a certain someone thinks somebody has more sand than he has.
"Europe Averts a Trade War With Trump. But Can It Trust Him?"
No. Next question.
3
The president is not impressive as to his business sense.
He manufactures his own realities. He's fickle. Years ago lawyers would see him 2 at a time, claiming he lied so much they needed a witness.
He gets to the office late, watching coverage of news items featuring himself. He doesn't bone up for an important meeting, and wings it. Often lacks stamina and looks haggard.
He's so impressed with himself he commits malpractice: Look how he bragged about inventing bogus economic numbers in a conversation with Canada's Trudeau.
Let's say the president agrees to something with other parties. He can't be counted on to maintain the same decision hours later. So there's that.
4
Of course they can't trust him! He wants attention, constant attention, and he wants to seem to wield power. So as soon as he agrees to something he will backtrack and do the opposite. Or hint the opposite. And he is never so shifty and unreliable to enemies as he is to friends. The only way not to get played by him is to do the playing yourself. Also -- the most effective mass protest would be to burst into loud laughter as soon as he shows up.
1
He certainly cannot be trusted but he can be out maneuvered and I think that's likely.
2
They can trust him as much as anyone would. As much as his lawyer or doctor would.
1
This is bad. If the Europeans really believe they can negotiate with Trump in good faith, they haven't been paying attention.
This is not a man who reaches for compromise. This is a man who pushes until someone has the audacity to push back.
13
"Europe Averts a Trade War With Trump. But Can It Trust Him?" No.
2
Republican obstruction and the breaking of TPP the Iran agreement and now trade deals means no one can trust the US from one administration to another. The refusal of republicans to put the smallest check on this president means there are no longer any checks and balances with the US system.
The US is no longer a trusted partner or ally. I would put us in the dog house until we prove we can manage our crazy.
3
"can it trust him?" No. Everyone who has ever trusted trump has come to grief. How often have you seen somebody come out of a meeting saying "we have a deal" only to read the tweet the next day that its off. How many people thought trump had their back only to find it was just so he could give them a real good push under the bus. No, you cannot trust him. His word is worthless and his contract aren't worth the paper they are written on. Has he ever honored a contract that was enforced by a court? I can't remember one.
4
So, in the announcement yesterday, the Sun King pulls his usual stunt, he says "he is FIXIN' to GET READY to do something really great." It is like the pre-announcement announcement. Results are always nothing follows.
4
Can the EU trust Trump? Can the EU trust a man who lies from the time he wakes up until the time he goes to sleep?
No.
2
Comments here are apt: little was actually accomplished in these talks, but the symbolism of the EU visit feeds Trump's agenda with his base. Now Trump can claim that he -- he alone, unlike any other president before him, the greatest trade achievement in the country's history, etc., etc. -- brought Europe to heel on its "unfair" trade. I fear Europe has blinked and accommodated the bully out of (justified) fear for the short-term economic impact, rather than play the long game of discrediting and neutralizing this dangerous president by swallowing some pain in order to let the US electorate reap the consequences of his actions.
This president will not learn, will not change, will not become helpful or predicable. He is an ideologue, vastly ignorant of economics and world issues, and can't be coaxed into better policies. He is uneducable. Even cheap flattery has its limits in changing his mind, given his ignorance and arrogance. No gesture of "we fought together" will make a dent with him. He detests the EU, sees it as an enemy, and wants it broke down. His reelection would bring catastrophe to Europe and the whole international system of rules and norms.
Hopefully Europeans will keep it paramount, in the forefront of their thinking, that discrediting Trump and any future presidential candidate like him is a survival imperative not only for the US but for Europe itself.
4
In these hostage, sorry - "trade", negotiations the only thing Trump reliably delivers is a theatrical conflict.
He makes an extreme threat, like a 25% tariff on European cars. Europe responds with some vague promises to renegotiate something. Trump backs down and gets a media win for cowing the 'enemy' and struts around declaring victory.
After that blows over, we have the reality that the Trump administration is incompetent top to bottom. No one is going to see this through and Trump lacks the leadership skills or attention span to make it happen.
If you're the EU the winning strategy is pretty clear. Let Trump dominate the news so it looks like he's 'winning'. Once the spotlight is off, ignore him and negotiate as you usually would.
9
@Joe Bob the III
Agreed. Trump ought to be completely ignored far more often than he is. Foreign leaders need to publicly appeal to our Do Nuthin' / Know Nuthin' Congress and put them on the spot for being responsible for changing our foreign policy.
5
Of course Europe can't trust Trump, no one can, but it appears Europeans understand this better than many Americans do. "'The question is, how much do you give in to a bully?' asked Maria Demertzis, the deputy director of Bruegel, an economic research institute in Brussels. 'This could just be perfunctory, and if it just stops extra tariffs, that's fine. But you can't really depend on Trump. His understanding of global trade is bilateral balance, which is as good as arbitrary, given global supply chains.'" It's a nice way of saying Trump is blustering fool. Since global trade is not about "bilateral balance," only a sucker fights for it. Trump may proclaim victory, but anyone with any sense sees that he lost. Trump evidently doesn't know he lost, and as long as he keeps watching Fox, he never will. However, for all Trump's bullying, the Europeans rolled him just as easily as Putin has. Trump purportedly got the EU to agree in principle to purchase some US soybeans. It's Trump's attempt to make up for the massive loss to China which he caused. It's worthless. China purchased a whopping 60 percent of all US production over the last decade. Canada and Mexico account for most of the remaining exports. The EU buys little US soybeans because it uses so much less than China. This does nothing for American farmers, but potentially gives Europe greater access to US markets. The EU didn't want to give anything to a bully, and so Trump actually received nothing, only a token concession.
4
Oh sure it can trust him -- at least until the midterms are done and his faction in the GOP loses seats. But if he wins, well, moral hazard is his calling card, and so is his bullying indifference.
5
Answer no.
Mr. Trump's word is worth no more than the tissue paper it is written on. Here today and flushed tomorrow at his latest whim.
No one should believe one word of the narcissistic, thin skinned, continuously lying Mr. Trump.
As an example, what happened to the denuclearized deal with North Korea? Where are the remains of the America soldiers North Korea said they would return?
1
"Europe Averts a Trade War With Trump. But Can It Trust Him?"
Of course not. Does anyone?
2
Thank you President Trump for getting the USA in a better trading position with the EU! If "Europe United" means eventually meeting the USA's demands, then I'm all for it!
@Don Q He didn't "get" anything other then a promise to talk in the future. Thats not much of an accomplishment
1
But can they (the EU) trust him?
They don't really have to. They've got his game. It's all about photo ops. So, the EU is now playing Trump, as in "we'll buy gas off you in about 5 years time but then only if the price is right".
Both parties then sit for pics and return home telling their base, "see how tough I (we) was (were)."
2
Trump clearly can't be trusted. The European community should know that by now.
4
Wow! The most important element in a world leader
and surely for a so called President is trust. No one
on the world stage trust Trump. Trump had his fingers crossed when he entered in to this freshly minted offering. Trumps hand-shake is worthless! Note to Europeans: Trump does not support the EU
no matter what lies he tosses about. He says your our foe. Now our farmers and automakers are supposed to swallow and trust Don the Con Trump?
How? Why? When?
A note for Democrats. Run on TRUST and you will win. Republicans can’t be trusted no matter the moral stakes or what is right for America and this “mystery body” of a president doesn’t have an once of TRUST in his body. Trust is a sorely needed element in todays world and definitely here at home
in the USA. Shake on it!
2
Better ask his business partners, contractors, and former Trump University students...
4
No, no one should trust Trump.
He has zero credibility.
2
It seems the Europeans understand Trump better than many Americans do. "'The question is, how much do you give in to a bully?' asked Maria Demertzis, the deputy director of Bruegel, an economic research institute in Brussels. 'This could just be perfunctory, and if it just stops extra tariffs, that's fine. But you can't really depend on Trump. His understanding of global trade is bilateral balance, which is as good as arbitrary, given global supply chains.'" That's a nice way of saying Trump is an idiot. Since global trade is not about "bilateral balance," only an ignoramus fights for it. Trump may proclaim victory, but anyone with an ounce of sense sees that he lost horribly. Trump evidently has no idea he lost, and as long as he keeps watching Fox News, he never will know. However, for all Trump's nastiness and bluster, the Europeans rolled him just as easily as Putin does. Trump purportedly got the EU to agree in principle to purchase some US soybeans. It's Trump's attempt to make up for the massive loss to China which he caused. It's pure nonsense. China purchased a whopping 60 percent of all US production over the last decade. Canada and Mexico account for additional US exports. The EU buys little American soybeans because it uses so much less than China does. This does nothing for American farmers, while potentially giving Europe greater access to US markets. The EU didn't want to give anything to a bully, and so Trump actually received nothing but a token concession.
3
Trusting Trump?
MAGA (My Attorney Got Arrested)
Why should anybody with reasonable intelligence trust Trump?
4
Trump's wife can't trust him why should the EU.
3
Can Europe trust this president?
After the G-7 summit, would those leaders trust this president after the way he acted when he dismissed them and blew off that meeting on his way to Singapore?
After the Singapore summit, when the president falsely claimed that North Korea was, for all intents and purposes, denuclearized, can his word be trusted?
After the NATO summit and the way the US president disparaged Angela Merkel and Theresa May on her home turf, would and sane world leader trust this president?
After the Helsinki summit, where the US president has refused to divulge the official minutes of that meeting and his defense of a Russian despot, can this president be trusted?
European leaders don't need to ask such a foolish question. Events of the very recent past have already given them their answer. It's an unqualified NO!
2
But can it trust him? Short and simple answer: No!
2
We Americans don't trust Trump...why on earth would anyone else trust him?
10
But can it trust him?
I think the whole world knows the answer to that question. trump will never be anything more than a self centered, self dealing spoiled baby.
4
His own attorney couldn't trust him, for crying out loud. Ivana couldn't, Marla couldn't, Melania can't. The EU leadership are not fools.
But in fairness to Trump, Putin can trust him.
11
Here is a little news not reported in the Ney York Times, but can be found in a Guardian news article.
Do the readers of this article know that the European Union does not do trade deals with countries not signed up to the Paris Climate Accord?
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jul/26/jean-claude-juncker-don...
It would seem that the Europeans are intent on creating a new world economic order based on the social cost of carbon.
Would be nice to see if the NYT can verify what the guardian is reporting.
6
@The Peasant Philosopher dead link
"Sorry – the page you have requested does not exist
You may have followed an outdated link, or have mistyped a URL"
1
@BigDaddy86
Here is the link in full. try again.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jul/26/jean-claude-juncker-don...
These constant complaints about Trump are boring and hypocritical. It is America as a whole that is faking it. Trump was elected the legal way and not through a lottery. Time for this country to look in the mirror and take full responsibility.
1
@rudolf speak for yourself thanks! I chose to vote for the qualified candidate, not the game show host with a history or business and personal failure.
1
In answer to your (rhetorical) headline question whether Trump can be trusted . . . no, he can't.
2
I think that the European Union can trust Trump about as far as anyone of them could throw the Rock of Gibraltar.
4
"But Can It Trust Him?"
No.
4
Of course they can't trust him. He wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, has a bad hair day, catches his wife watching CNN and he could just as easy blame the EU and slap more tariffs on them. He's crazy, plain and simple.
4
Can Europe trust DJT? In a word: no.
2
The EU would be prudent, and wary, in trusting Trump.
Tomorrow will be a different day with a different take on any talks.
In his business dealings he was less than honest, and at times, outright dishonest.
Trust? That is earned. His status and importance as president does not bestow any honesty by him.
3
The EU cannot and will not trust Trump. But the LNG from the US is much more expensive than natural gas from Russia, and the soybeans will have to be tested for genetic modifications. So, in my opinion, the EU will not buy the LNG from the US nor the soybeans. Has the EU put one over on the Trump, the "master of the art of the deal?"
3
"For Mr. Juncker, the outcome was a triumph, even if he made concessions."
It seems that no concessions were made, in the sense of a binding deal or even a deal in principle. It was a change of tone from the oversized rhetoric, principally from Trump.
I wasn't in the room, but it seems that Juncker agreed to look into some things the US wants (invoking the magic word "soybeans") and Trump dropped his threat of murder suicide in putting tariffs on cars. Both sides are standing down.
A change in tone and standing down is a better result than Trump was heading toward. "No disaster today" is a relief from the crisis mode and despair that Trump gives every American on trade.
2
Trump is clearly bent on destroying the EU. Being under tremendous pressure for his trade policies, mostly from Republican Congressmen and governors, he had no choice but to change his tune. But, I believe, that will be short-lived. His goal remains the same and in a week or two he will be at it again.
11
There is NO deal, only a truce, and hence nothing to trust or not.
Kindly note:
1. The agreed upon negotiations will be limited to industrial products only
2. They will possible cover a possible agreement on some norm and standards (used frequently by both the EU and US to limit trade, see GMO soybeans mentioned)
3. Tariffs on cars will NOT be covered (postponed indefinitely at this point).
4. Also excluded from the upcoming talks are agriculture, media , cultural products such as TV shows, media , moves
MOST IMPORTANTLY
5. There is NO time table for the negotiation in the agreement
Mr. Juncker may claim that he "made a deal" but no deal was made. Nor can Mr. Juncker state that the " EU " will import more soybeans. The EU has no mechanism to force its members to import a particular product.
At best, this is truce that might lead to negotiate a light version of the TTIP, an agreement for which President Obama called in his State of the Union address 2013.
21
Reality to Trump means whatever he wants it to mean at that precise nanosecond. Everything is fluid, usually transactional, and gives him whatever personal advantage (usually financial) that he feels he can get out of it. The old metaphor for politicians who change according to the winds used to be a windmill. With Trump, it would be some kind of chaos machine.
If you look at the actual statement, the only specific agreement is to put together an Executive Working Group to identify short-term measures and in the meantime not to go against the spirit of the agreement. Everything else is what they want, plan to resolve, and discuss. This was described by Ross as an "agreement in principles".
That spirit is to work towards zero tariffs, a reduction of trade barriers and increase trade in services, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical products, and soybeans. The EU wants to import more LNG. They want to resolve the steel and aluminum tariff issues and retaliatory tariffs. They will also "launch a close dialogue" to address unfair global trade practices and reform the WTO.
I don't see anything in that about auto tariffs, about other agricultural products, or other areas.
The devil is in the details. They are missing.
11
Hopefully the WTO rulings in the trade measures cases among the various countries involved will eliminate any lingering doubts of skeptics about the quality of international law.
1
Can Europe trust him? Can Europe trust the U.S.? It's the U.S. who put him there. In the future they may well put in another like him, or worse.
12
@abo Hopefully we learned from our mistake and will correct this error soon.
As for worse, I believe we hit rock bottom with Trump-he makes Nixon appear to be a choir boy.
The articles on the trade deal do not explain how the soy situation has changed. They are bringing in more from the US instead of what? Are they buying it just to keep US farmers happy?
A little digging answered the question. The EU has a poor crop due to weather so needs to import more soy than usual. This should have created a market for our farmers to get a premium price.
EU does what it needed to do and Trump can pitch his fake narrative.
8
Europe need not move. The number favor the EU in this fight. Too many European countries have plants and staff in the US. Tariffs, fiat pricing, would slow demand and result in job loses. European taxes on imports are VAT taxes, no where near the extreme range of Trump's 25% hike on steel, a hike of one-fourth the market price.
More, Americans will wake up to the realization that a tariff is a tax. It's collected by the government. How is a government tax that raises prices and lowers demand and cost jobs going to fix trade?
Most trade is between private parties. Its deficit is not a government number; it measures cash flow in and out, not how those imports are turned into profits. Raise the prices on imports through tariffs and lose profits.
Businesses are reporting these new loses is sales, jobs, and profits!
13
This agreement to negotiate only buys time for the EU, like other US trading partners, to find markets elsewhere. No matter how you look at it, it's a win for the EU and pending disaster for the US.
32
@DSS. Excellent point and one we are hearing farmers make too. Farmers are noting that once their old customers establish alternate suppliers it will be difficult if not impossible to lure them back while making any kind of profit.
The small American farmer has been just treading water for years. Trump will have killed most of them off with this horrible tariff game. As it is most American small farms are owned by people who are over 65 years old. The next generation is leaving the farm in droves. The huge corporate farms will just gobble up the wreckage. The American farmer was finally killed by Donald J Trump. That's one for the history books.
4
@DSS The pending disaster was caused not only by Trump, but by all of us.
1
@DSS
Your absolutely right. There was no plan, no process, no thinking just the usual mouth and no message. This administration just cant get it right because this administration is beyond stupid. Thinking is not required in this administration being mean is a treasured trait. These tariffs are destroying the economy. 12 billion wont help these Americans being impacted by this non thinking administration who don't care about anyone but themselves. Thank you Trump administration for absolutely nothing.
Where are the children? ,deadline is tomorrow. Maybe Jeff Sessions should be locked up for separating infants from their parents. There is a place for Mr. Sessions and it doesn't matter how sorry he is for implementing policies that separate little ones from their parents.
1
While the inscription on Mr. Juncker's gift is quite appropriate, the statement assumes that the recipient knows enough history to remember shared ties. It's unclear if President Trump knows or understands any history or diplomatic context whatsoever. As to whether Europe should trust President Trump, the unfortunate answer is a resounding "no."
If past is indeed prologue, President Trump's own history of bankruptcies, broken deals, and loyalties severed are clear indicators that he is wholly unreliable when it comes to negotiations and trade. His only calculus is personal: will a given action make him richer, more famous or popular with his base, or more powerful.
24
It goes like this. Trade among friends is: you got something I want, I got something you want, let's negotiate. Trade among rivals is: I got something you want, you got something I want, give me what I want or you don't get what you want. There is a difference and Trump has chosen that latter.
20
@DSS
Spot on! Bravo!
You captured the essence of responsible international trade in just a few words.
They can trust him until after the midterm elections.
13
Before Trump says anything else about the growing trade war he is waiting for further instructions from Putin. If only the soccer ball would be returned to him.
9
@Hedy Sloane - The soccer ball is a real gift to the cartoonists of the world. I can see DJT crouching over it, murmuring, "Alexei, what do I do now?"
17
No one trusts Trump any more. They have learned to deal with his lies and have seen his subservience to Putin. He is being contained while the world arranges its own business without the US for the future.
54
How do you negotiate in good faith with someone who is a compulsive liar and prone to change his mind at any time? Our country has zero credibility or moral authority as long as King Donald sits on the throne.
42
"President Trump, a renowned admirer of military commanders"
What a fraud. No Trump in 4 generations has ever served in the military, yet he would have no second thoughts when sending others to die.
104
@John Reynolds
Yes, 40 years later and the bone spurs have still not healed.
1
@John Reynolds
Actually, Trump's grandfather was a draft dodger in Bavaria in 1885.
Draft dodging is a Trump family tradition.
Please, give credit where credit is due.
1
Of course Europe can't trust this treasonous, racist, rapist dolt. No can. No one has ever been able to. No one should.
48
Can Europe trust Trump? No.
And if they do, the Europeans are fools.
76
We are not fools.
Trump University -- new and improved with an exciting new White House campus -- continues to be one of the world's greatest frauds.
Why would any reasonable adult matriculate in America's Presidential black hole ?
Walk away from this sociopath, world leaders.
He is a force for utter darkness.
67
Anyone who trusts Trump is either deluded or oblivious.
The EU needs to watch its back and hold its breath (and nose) until Trump and his cult are back where they can feed their Fox fiction / anger addiction where it belongs -- on the couch in front of the TV.
18
It looks like the NO's have it, with good reason.
17
Europe Averts a Trade War With Trump. But Can It Trust Him?
Will tomorrow's headline read: Trump reignites trade tariffs on Europe? I say it's highly likely -
44
Can Europe Trust him? No. Nobody can. He lies.
119
@Becky you are too nice. He also cheats and defrauds.
25
You really start to think this man has zero instincts or insight about politics, psychology, or men. Not Trump, Steven Erlanger. He takes a mighty huff and puff and could not blow out a candle with this overview of what is in fact at minimum extremely interesting new leadership for America. It's valid enough but as flat as a saltine. A better analyst would see the smorgasbord that is unpredictability, toughness, pandering to the base, strategic retreat, aggravating levels of public aplomb and give us something to chew on rather than spit out.
Trump is Trump, and so we know the basic drill without restating the obvious. The Trump Derangement people are beating a dead horse, the man is elected, what they refuse to face is why his style is proven acceptable; he is more popular than ever even with unusual approaches to various policies. All these Trumpian machinations will be reused by him come time to run, and they will sound great to his base: "I was tough!" Examining that held popularity is what would be useful out of an analyst, but Left side journalists are both afraid to go there, and unaware it exists. One wonders is the author here been given marching orders, or is he incapable of thinking creatively over history.
The Trump style is brilliant politics, but you'd have to appreciate politics as in Machiavelli, to grasp this. This is a golden opportunity for a writer to deliver insights, instead we get weak tea criticism from the neoliberal echo chamber. Mores the pity.
5
@CK
The "left" writers you deride have also read Machiavelli. They are just as smart as you; no probably smarter. They "face" why this potus style works with a MINORITY of voters, but they mostly do so in private, although there have been many columns on this in the NY Times and other major newspapers, Sorry you didn't read them. Politics is war. There is no reason for opponents of Trump to go on about how talented he is or use the word "brilliant" in respect to an evil thug. None. That only helps him and hurts the country. You can be sure the Democratic party has funded tons of research on Trump's methods and how to counter them. You can be sure the Democratic leadership understands all this far better than you do.
So, let me get this straight - POTUS creates an unnecessary crisis by ordaining a self-destructive policy and then we're to praise him when he does something to make the crisis he alone created less bad? As with DACA, North Korea, grants to farmers hurt by tariffs, and so on, the pattern repeats, a formula for bringing a populace under the thrall of a "benevolent" leader. It's a playbook from the Soviet Union and many other countries. Machievelli wasn't looking out for the welfare of the people, my friend, but on how to centralize and keep power. You seem an intelligent person. I'm sure you are able to see how this all ends.
1
@CK
"This is a golden opportunity for a writer to deliver insights"....
The author (and the Europeans cited) offered plenty of insight and acknowledged (even credited) Trump's strategies. Did you even read the article?
The answer to the question is NO!
17
Whatever the actual terms of the agreement may be......
.....we may be confident Trump will undermine it within a week.
31
So, despite all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, it appears as though Trump has gotten what he sought. And still, no credit. Talk about derangement.
6
That’s it spot on. He IS indeed deranged. 100%.
4
@RJ Are you sure? I suspect that like me, you actually have no idea about the details of our current trade agreements or what will be negotiated. And we didn't need to get to the negotiating table by throwing our own economy into turmoil. Let's wait for results before starting to crow.
6
He didn’t get anything, just back to where it was to start with.
Juncker doesn’t have any influence over how many soya beans the EU purchase, so that is meaningless. He can, with agreement from the 28 countries and within WTO rules, change the tariffs, but that wasn’t suggested, and it is not going to happen.
9
The ability of humans to continue to react predictably has allowed a lunatic to run this nation. No matter how badly behaved our president is we seem to always assume trust and rational behavior will win out. His pattern of deceit is so strong with so many recent bad results begs the question why we always assume the best in people. North Korea trump was asking for the Peace Prize as they continue to enrich their uranium. Putin meeting a complete disaster but he takes the pages from Putin and rewrites history, literally. His deal with Xi where he extorted him to loan 2 billion for a theme park with trump hotels, condos and golf course resulted in a full out trade war but he did save XTE. Now this secret no deal with EU will last long enough for the next election perhaps?
I give up trying to reverse the Banana Republic we have become. The GOP runs like Putin's politburo doing the bidding of their dictator. Impeaching trump is an impossible task no matter how damning Mueller's report is.
7
@gary leibowitz We don't have to impeach, we just have to take back the House and maybe the Senate this fall. It's easy. Give money to some campaigns and vote.
15
Even we don’t trust him. So why would/should the EU?
87
The question is no longer if one can trust Trump. Rather, can one trust a nation so divided that any change in Administration can lead to breaking agreements, treaties, and given word in a nanosecond. The world has witnessed "True Americans" upfront and in the raw, as if for the first time, and everyone is either scared or sick to their stomachs. The South (and Taliban Midwest) have risen, and they are no friends of anyone. With "Christians" such as these, wholly given over to bearing false witness and breaking the golden rule any which way they please and can, who on Earth needs any other enemies?
37
@William Wallace, Trump has broken no treaties. the JCPOA, the Paris Climate Change agreements were all agreed to by the Obama Administration but they did not require congress to ratify them. So they were not treaties and could be walked away from by previous administrations. If you have a probelm with that take it up with Obama.
@William Wallace
It is with a heavy heart that I must agree with you. Your comment is one of the best illustrations of why United States citizens must hear voices from abroad.
It is a tenet of faith among Americans who understand the Constitution and certainly among those of us who have served as military officers or profess to have ethics; when you have openly given your commitment and assurances to others, you cannot ever unilaterally back away from it. Our word is our bond.
Agreements and treaties are not transactional but are binding commitments of ourselves, our heirs and assigns unless renegotiated and the changes mutually agreed upon.
We stand shamefaced before the world. But we will fix it.
As long as Trump is President no thinking human in the world would trust the US, or take it for its words. The problem with regaining that trust after Trump is gone lies with the fact that he has a 40% approval rating even after all the things he has done in the first 18 months. It will take a long time before the American people (voters) regains the trust of the world. My guess is that the trend of simply dealing around US, rather than teaming up with and getting behind US, will last for decades. Companies will avoid supply chains that include the US.
116
The EU is not afraid of free trade for a number of reasons: They manufacture a high amount of unrivaled quality and luxury products (LVMH, German cars and appliances, ...) which e.g. gives Germany a trade surplus even with China. The EU has high food, emission and product standards which are a second line trade barrier. No market for American chlorinated chickens, hormone beef, gas guzzlers, ...
I do hope the EU includes a backstop against unfair competition from US companies saving costs by polluting during production.
55
@Liz
I wish I could recommend you a dozen times! You have shined a light on the proactive manner to impose trade barriers and the right reasons to do so.
Producing high quality products at a volume necessary to reap economies of scale will allow you to dominate select markets; sharing the earnings with workers and ploughing a significant share back into R&D cements your advantage. Protecting domestic markets is best achieved by offering superior quality to a population that can afford to pay for that quality. No one is going to knowingly buy inferior quality at the same price.
Having high consumer product standards is indeed a second line trade barrier; they protect our health and safety while legally excluding inferior products that would harm unsuspecting consumers. "You are not permitted to import that because it creates a social cost based on your private benefit. Send it back or we will destroy here here at your expense."
That's how the game should be played!
1
I suppose I should be entertained by the quick costume changes or "volte face" of Trump critics.
Check out the their reaction to Trump's North Korea policies and his trade policies. It is a 2-step process.
1. Trump's policy is madness and he can't possibly strike a deal.
2. Trump's deal may look good but it can't work because Trump can't be trusted.
That way his critics get to stay negative and preserve their air of omniscience.
As another commenter noted the other day, for Trump's critics' sake, he hopes Trump doesn't raise tariffs on sour grapes.
1
@Ian Maitland
His "policies" haven't yielded any results other then to destroy deals in place while promising a replacement that never comes.
3