Trump gives 4 July ultimatum to EU to approve trade deal with US

The US president said the European Union must enact the trade deal agreed last year and drop tariffs on American goods to zero. Trump threatens 'much higher' tariffs on EU by 4 of July Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. A close-up shows Donald Trump talking, while looking serious. Trump gives 4 July ultimatum to EU to approve trade deal with US President Donald Trump has threatened "much higher" tariffs on the European Union (EU) by 4 July if the bloc fails to drop its levies on the US to zero. After a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said the EU had signed a "historic trade deal" with the US and agreed to cut its tariffs. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels," he wrote on social media. However, von der Leyen said the bloc was making "good progress towards tariff reduction" ahead of Trump's deadline. "We remain fully committed, on both sides, to its implementation," she said on X. The trade deal was struck by von der Leyen and Trump in July last year, but progress on enacting it stumbled on Wednesday after talks between EU lawmakers and governments ended without an agreement. Under the agreement, US tariffs on exports from the EU would face a 15% tariff. Trump had threatened tariffs of 30% on European goods. The deal received conditional approval from the European Parliament in March, when a majority of lawmakers backed legislation to implement the agreement, but added several safeguards aimed at ensuring the US honoured its side of the pact. The deal received conditional approval from the European Parliament in March, when a majority of lawmakers backed legislation to implement the agreement, but added several safeguards aimed at ensuring the US honoured its side of the pact. Parliamentarians voted they would only accept zero tariffs on US goods if European goods made with steel and aluminium were excluded from Trump's global 50% tariff on those metal products. Despite the progress through parliament, the deal also requires endorsement by the 27 member states. Earlier on Thursday, before Trump's social media statement, the European Parliament's chief negotiator Bernd Lagne said lawmakers and governments were making good progress on the negotiations but added "there is still some way to go". The negotiators are set to meet for another round of talks on 19 May in Strasbourg. "We remain more committed than ever to advance and defend Parliament's mandate so as to provide additional guarantees that will benefit citizens and companies in both the EU and the US," Lange said in a statement. Last week, Trump accused the EU of "not complying with our fully agreed to trade deal" in a post on Truth Social, and said he would increase tariffs on trucks and cars to 25%. Last week, Trump accused the EU of "not complying with our fully agreed to trade deal" in a post on Truth Social, and said he would increase tariffs on trucks and cars to 25% The original agreement on tariffs and trade was reached after the US President finished a round of golf at his luxury resort in Turnberry, Scotland. Ursula von der Leyen shakes hands with Donald Trump, both seated with a bunch of white roses and Scottish thistles between them. Von der Leyen wears a light grey suit jacket and has short blonde hair. Trump wears a navy suit jacket, white shirt and a mustard tie. Trump agrees trade deal with EU president after round of golf European parliament interior shot showing a plenary session in which the EU/US trade deal was greenlight, pending some conditions. European Parliament gives conditional approval to EU-US trade deal The current level of tariffs charged on goods entering the US from the EU is 15%, under a deal negotiated last July. Trump said he had taken the decision after King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US. The US president said he would lift restrictions on Scotland's ability to work with the state of Kentucky on whisky and bourbon. Leo, the first American pontiff, drew Trump's ire after becoming a firm critic of the war and the administration's hardline immigration policies. Other members of the Trump administration will step in to brief the press while Leavitt is on maternity leave. The two leaders have a strained relationship and will be closely watched for signs of a breakthrough over tariffs and other issues. President Trump has suspended anoperation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz - BBC Verify explains the timeline. There are signs of fresh momentum to end the war, but Trump himself has injected a note of caution.