Who wrangled the best trade deal from Donald Trump?

In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has

struck new trade deals

with Argentina and India. Both countries have obtained partial relief from tariffs by making it easier for American firms to sell goods to their citizens in return. The

backlash from those citizens was swift.

Indian farmers’ unions branded the deal a “total surrender”; an opposition politician warned that India risked becoming “a dumping ground”. Such charges have become familiar. France’s former prime minister described the European Union’s deal with America as an act of “submission”.

Though Mr Trump has fallen far short of the “90 deals in 90 days” his administration promised in April, he has signed a flurry of them. America has concluded five final reciprocal trade deals – including with Cambodia, Malaysia and Argentina – plus around a dozen looser “frameworks” with partners such as the EU and India. These are deliberately thin; fewer than eight pages long, they go heavy on vague statements, such as that the countries “intend to discuss” things.