By The Opinion
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, once again increased pressure on the European Union (EU) by launching a trade ultimatum that could intensify economic tensions between Washington and Brussels in the middle of an election year.
Trump assured that he had an “excellent telephone conversation” with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to whom he warned that the European bloc has until next July 4 to comply with the trade agreement reached last year in Scotland or face new tariff increases.
“I have been patiently waiting for the EU to fulfill its part of the historic trade agreement,” the Republican president wrote in Truth Social. “Tariffs were promised to be reduced to zero, as agreed. Otherwise, tariffs will immediately rise to much higher levels,” he added.
The new deadline coincides with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United Statesa date that Trump has used as a political symbol in several of his recent speeches.
The president had already threatened days ago to raise the tariffs applied to European cars and trucks from 15% to 25%, arguing that Brussels has not fully complied with what was agreed in the so-called “Turnberry Agreement”, signed during a meeting between both leaders in Scotland in July 2025.
“I had an immense name with The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. We talked about many issues, alongside side that we’re fully united that Iran can below no circumstances beget a Nuclear Weapon… A promise changed into once made that the EU would discuss their aspect of the Deal and, as per… pic.twitter.com/Io1wbIktFr
— The White Home (@WhiteHouse) Can Also 7, 2026
Europe seeks to buy time as negotiations continue
Although Trump’s tone maintained pressure on the Europeans, community officials interpreted the new deadline as an extension that would allow progress in the internal ratification of the trade agreement.
Negotiations within the European Union face political resistance and divisions among several member states. During the early hours of Thursday, European representatives held more than six hours of talks without reaching consensus to definitively approve the trade text.
The agreement contemplates that the European Union eliminates most tariffs on American industrial productswhile Washington would maintain a 15% tariff ceiling on much of European exports, including automobiles, pharmaceutical products, semiconductors and wood.
However, some European sectors maintain reservations about Trump’s foreign policy and his recent statements about Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark. Legislators in the European Parliament seek to introduce safeguards that would allow the pact to be suspended if Washington threatens European strategic interests.
Von der Leyen confirmed that the conversation with Trump was “constructive” and stated that both parties continue to work to close the agreement before July.
Iran and global security also dominated the call
In addition to the trade conflict, both leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and they agreed to reject any possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
Trump assured that Washington and Brussels are “totally united” regarding the fact that Tehran “can never possess a nuclear weapon.” The US president maintained that a regime that “murders its own people” should not have access to weapons capable of causing mass destruction.
Von der Leyen also highlighted the coordination between the United States and the European Union in the face of the regional crisis and warned that the risks to international stability continue to grow.
The new commercial pulse occurs at a delicate moment for the global economy, with markets attentive to the possible consequences of another tariff escalation between two of the largest economic powers in the world.
Meanwhile, Trump maintains his strategy of direct pressure on allies and trade rivals alike, in a campaign that seeks to reinforce his image as a tough negotiator ahead of the legislative elections and consolidate the support of American industrial sectors.
Keep reading:
- The European Union approves signing with Mercosur one of the largest free trade agreements in the world
- Businessmen, lawmakers praise Trump’s EU-US tariff deal
- Who wins and who loses from the new trade agreement between the US and the European Union
