U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would give the European Union until July 4 to implement trade deal commitments before he raises tariffs on EU goods including cars to "much higher levels," Reuters reports.
Trump said in a Truth Social post that he issued the new deadline during a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in which the two leaders also agreed that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon.
In a surprise move, Trump last Friday announced that he would raise tariffs on EU vehicles to 25% from the previously agreed 15% because the EU was not complying with the terms of a deal struck in Scotland last July.
The deal called for the EU to cut its tariffs on U.S. industrial goods to zero and provide duty-free quotas on certain American farm and sea produce, but the implementing legislation has been slow to move through the European Parliament.
"I’ve been waiting patiently for the EU to fulfill their side of the Historic Trade Deal we agreed in Turnberry, Scotland, the largest Trade Deal, ever!" Trump said.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO! I agreed to give her until our Country’s 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels," he said, referring to the U.S. July 4 Independence Day celebration.
Von der Leyen said in a post on X that she discussed the trade deal with Trump and agreed with him that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon.
"We also discussed the EU–U.S. trade deal. We remain fully committed, on both sides, to its implementation. Good progress is being made towards tariff reduction by early July," von der Leyen said.
