American company Venture Global reaches two major liquefied natural gas supply deals with European energy firms following trade discussions between President Trump and European leaders.

U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs threaten the American economy at least as much the European one, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Wednesday, calling for a "fair deal" with the Americans.

European Union officials have drawn up plans to impose levies on American imports, but questions abound about whether they would go through with them.

Early this year, when Donald Trump was threatening to turn his back on NATO unless its members dramatically increased their annual contributions to the military alliance (“If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them”),

"Other trading partners observing these threats will have the same mistrust of the negotiation process," experts argue.

Economists had already downgraded growth for the European Union, and the new duties would hit industries there especially hard. Companies are looking for ways to blunt the impact.

President Trump has long boasted of his friendly relationship with Putin, and after taking office in January repeatedly said that Russia was more willing than Ukraine to reach a peace deal.