The European Union aims to push trade talks past Trump’s July 9 deadline, knowing that a full agreement is unlikely within the timeframe. Officials are working to slow negotiations rather than rushing to meet Washington’s demands. The process is already bogged down by layers of bureaucracy, making any quick resolution nearly impossible.
EU trade deals are not decided by a single authority. Every agreement must be ratified by all 27 member states, each with its own industries, political priorities, and regulatory concerns. Even if Brussels finalizes a framework deal with Washington, local parliaments must independently approve it, a process that can take months or years.
Trump has warned that if talks do not conclude by July 9, nearly all EU exports to the U.S. will face a 50 percent tariff, affecting $434 billion in goods. The threat has put pressure on European leaders, but insiders say the EU is deliberately slowing negotiations rather than rushing to accept terms that favor American industries.
Trade chief Maros Sefcovic has been negotiating with U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The discussions cover automobiles, steel, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and aviation, but no breakthroughs have been reached. The EU’s resistance to U.S. demands has stalled progress, making an extension of talks inevitable.
The EU is also preparing defensive measures in case negotiations collapse. Officials have drafted retaliatory tariffs targeting American industries, ready for implementation if Trump moves forward with his proposed tax hikes. European leaders insist they will not be forced into a rushed deal, regardless of Trump’s deadline.
Trump’s trade strategy hinges on securing concessions from Europe, but the EU is not operating on Washington’s timeline. The complexity of its approval process, combined with internal opposition, ensures that negotiations will drag on far beyond July.
Sources
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/eu-sees-us-trade-talks-064045518.html