U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a small business summit in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., May 4, 2026.
Kylie Cooper | Reuters
President Donald Trump said he would give the European Union until July 4 to ratify its trade deal with the United States, threatening to increase tariffs to “much higher” levels if the 27-nation bloc failed to do so.
In a job on Truth Social Thursday evening, Trump issued a new trade deadline during a “big call” with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during which he said the two leaders agreed that Iran could never possess nuclear weapons.
The conversation took place shortly after the US president promised increase tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the EU to 25%, accusing the bloc of failing to meet terms of the agreement hit on his golf course in Scotland last July.
“I have waited patiently for the EU to deliver on its side of the historic trade deal we reached at Turnberry, Scotland, the biggest trade deal ever! A promise was made that the EU would uphold its side of the deal and, in accordance with the agreement, reduce its tariffs to ZERO! » Trump said.
“I agreed to give it until the 250th anniversary of our country, otherwise, unfortunately, their rates would immediately go to much higher levels,” he added, referring to July 4.
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It was not immediately clear whether Trump indicated the tariffs would apply to all EU products or whether the increase would apply only to automobiles. His latest comments, however, suggest he is backing down from last week’s threat to impose higher tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the EU.
The EU’s von der Leyen said via X that the bloc remains “fully committed” to implementing the trade deal. She added that “good progress has been made towards reducing tariffs by early July.”
“Still a long way to go”Hours after Trump’s trade threats against the EU, a US trade court ruled that Trump’s latest 10% global tariffs were not justified under US law.
This is a new blow to the trade policy of the Trump administration after the The Supreme Court ruled earlier in the year, the president could not impose even broader double-digit tariffs.
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after announcing a US-EU trade deal, in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain, July 27, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
The European Parliament’s chief trade negotiator, Bernd Lange, said On Thursday, EU lawmakers and governments made “good progress” toward finalizing a deal that would bring levies on the United States to zero, but added that “there is still some way to go.”
Trade negotiators are expected to meet again on May 10 for the next round of negotiations.
Speaking to Bloomberg earlier this week, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that he expects the EU to uphold “its side of the trade deal” agreed in July last year.
