I waited patiently: Trump gives the EU until July 4 to implement the trade agreement with the United States

Donald Trump Gives EU Until July 4th to Implement Trade Agreement

• Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is giving the European Union until July 4 to implement the trade agreement negotiated with the United States last autumn in Scotland.
• The European Parliament approved it at the end of March, with conditions.
• However, internal procedures within the bloc require negotiations with member states before the agreement can be formally enforced.

Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is giving the European Union until July 4 to implement the trade agreement negotiated with the United States, following a phone call with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of their Declaration of Independence from Great Britain on that day, considered the country’s birthdate. After this deadline, the tariffs imposed by Washington on the EU would “immediately leap 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 negotiated last autumn in Turnberry, Scotland, at the end of March, with conditions. However, internal procedures within the bloc require negotiations with member states before it can be formally enforced.

“The Biggest Trade Agreement Ever Made”

In the Turnberry agreement, the EU committed to removing tariffs on most American imports in exchange for capping at 15% 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 biggest trade agreement ever made,” wrote the President of the United States. “The EU has promised to fulfill its part of the deal and (…) reduce its tariffs to ZERO,” he added. He described his call with Ursula von der Leyen as “very good.”

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On Friday, Donald Trump threatened the EU with imposing new customs duties on cars and trucks exported to the United States. In response, Brussels assured that the EU was fulfilling its part of the agreement and that Washington had been kept informed “throughout the procedures” aimed at legislative approval. Discussions between the Twenty-Seven and the European Parliament regarding the finalization of 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.