Tariffs: Trump gives EU July 4 deadline in call with von der Leyen

Brussels – Just under two months to produce concrete and visible results, or new tariffs will be imposed on all ‘Made in the EU’ goods. Amid ultimatums and threats, the standoff between the United States and the European Union continues, with US President Donald Trump once again putting pressure on the EU. A situation that required a phone call between the White House occupant and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, to tone down the rhetoric and buy more time.

 “Both sides remain fully committed to the implementation” of the agreement reached almost a year ago, in July, von der Leyen said following telephone talks with Trump. In this regard, she explains, “good progress is being made towards reducing tariffs by early July.” 

The problem for the EU is the legislative and implementation process for the agreements, which takes time before full ratification, and thus full entry into force, can be achieved. This timeline is considered too long on the other side of the Atlantic: “I’ve been waiting patiently for the EU to fulfil their side of the Historic Trade Deal we agreed in Turnberry, Scotland, the largest Trade Deal, ever!” Trump wrote on his Truth profile, revealing his complete dissatisfaction with the situation. “A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of ​the Deal and, as per the Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!” If this does not happen by 4 July, “unfortunately, ​their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels” than the 15 per cent stipulated in the agreement. 

The outcome of the von der Leyen–Trump phone call is therefore mixed: on the one hand, an open confrontation has been avoided following renewed US threats and the EU’s responses, in favour of a mutually agreed solution; on the other hand, however, tensions in transatlantic relations remain. 

The phone call that Trump described as “great” nevertheless provided an opportunity for the two sides to discuss the Middle East as well and to find, at least on the issue of Iran, a common position: the Ayatollahs’ regime must never acquire nuclear weapons. On this point at least, the European Union and the United States appear to be in agreement.