President Trump has once again threatened Europe. He announced Thursday that he would give the European Union until July 4 to implement the trade agreement reached with the United States, after a call with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Beyond this deadline, the tariffs imposed by Washington on the EU would “immediately skyrocket to much higher levels,” warned the American president on his Truth Social network.
The European Parliament approved the trade agreement between the United States and the EU concluded last summer in Turnberry, Scotland, at the end of March, with conditions. However, internal procedures within the bloc involve negotiations with member states before it is formally implemented. In the Turnberry agreement, the EU committed to removing tariffs on most American imports in exchange for a cap on 15% of the tariffs imposed by Trump on European products.
“I have patiently waited for the EU to fulfill its part of the Historic Trade Agreement we reached, the largest trade agreement ever made,” wrote the US President. “The EU has promised to fulfill its part of the deal and reduce its tariffs to ZERO,” he added. “I have agreed to give them until the 250th anniversary of our country, otherwise, unfortunately, tariffs (practiced in the US) would immediately skyrocket to much higher levels.” The United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of their Declaration of Independence from Great Britain on July 4, considered the country’s birth date.
Tariffs on European vehicles: On Friday, Donald Trump threatened the EU with new customs duties on cars and trucks exported to the United States. In response, Brussels assured that the EU was respecting its part of the agreement, and that Washington had been kept informed “throughout the procedures” aimed at legislative ratification.
Discussions between the Twenty-Seven and the European Parliament to ratify the trade agreement with the United States have progressed but have not yet reached a conclusion, it was reported in Brussels from Wednesday night to Thursday.
The Cypriot government, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, reported “progress on a number of elements” and expressed its intention to continue this “positive momentum” during a new negotiation session with the Members of the European Parliament scheduled for May 19.
