EU sticks to Trump’s 9 July tariff deadline despite US extension hints

The European Commission remains committed to clinching a trade deal with the US before Donald Trump’s original 9 July deadline, Brussels said on Monday, despite recent suggestions from the US president and other senior American officials that sweeping tariffs will only be imposed on 1 August.

The Commission's comments come after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” – which upended the global economy in early April but were quickly suspended for 90 days – would enter into force at the start of next month.

However, Bessent sparked confusion by denying that 1 August represents “a new deadline”. Trump suggested last Friday that the duties will “probably start” on 1 August but said on Sunday that “most countries” will have their tariff rates set by 9 July.

“We're working towards 9 July as the point where we want to have a minimum agreement in principle with the US,” Commission trade spokesperson Olof Gill told reporters.

“As I understand it, what the US side said was that in the absence of an agreement by 9 July (...) some tariffs would kick in on 1 August. So, we're still working towards 9 July,” he added.

Trump's tariff frenzy

Trump has already slapped 50% tariffs on all US steel and aluminium imports since his return to the White House earlier this year. He has also imposed 25% duties on cars and car parts and a 10% “universal” levy on most other exports.

If introduced, Trump’s “reciprocal” duties – which aim to match other countries' purported trade barriers – could see the EU’s 10% baseline levy rise to 50%.

Around €370 billion worth of EU exports – 70% of the bloc’s total shipments to the US – are currently affected by Trump’s levies, according to EU officials.

Brussels has drawn up a retaliatory package targeting €21 billion worth of US goods, which is currently set to enter into force on 14 July. It is also preparing a separate €95 billion list.

Trump has repeatedly condemned the EU’s trade surplus with the US, which he claims amounts to $250 billion (€212 billion) per year and is a result of unfair discrimination against American exporters.

According to the most recent EU data, the bloc ran a total surplus of €50 billion with the US in 2024, with a surplus in goods of €198 billion and a deficit in services of €148 billion.

'Various countries' will receive US letters today

On Sunday, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that letters announcing “various countries’” tariff rates will be delivered from 6pm Brussels time today.

Questions about whether the EU will be among the letters’ recipients should be directed to US officials, Commission spokesperson Gill said. Neither the Office of the US Trade Representative nor the US Department of Commerce immediately responded to requests for comment.

“I don't know what will happen in the course of the day,” an EU diplomat said when asked whether they expect the EU to be among the recipients.

The confusion comes after EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič’s last-ditch visit to Washington last week failed to secure a deal, despite the bloc’s increasing willingness to accept steep levies on some of its exports to clinch an agreement.

Brussels said on Monday that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had a “good exchange” during a rare phone call with Trump on Sunday.

Gill stressed that the Commission, which oversees the bloc’s trade policy, remains “fully committed to finding a deal that benefits EU businesses, consumers, and the overall global economy”.

“We're fully geared up to get an agreement in principle by Wednesday, and we're firing on all cylinders to that effect,” he added.

(vib)