Trump sets June deadline, EU leaders call for de-escalation

The European Union's Commissioner for Trade has stated that the 27-nation bloc is committed to securing a trade agreement with the United States based on “respect,” not “threats,” the BBC reports.

This statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on all goods exported from the EU to the U.S, CE Report quotes FENA.

“The EU is fully engaged and committed to securing an agreement that works for both sides,” said EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič following talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

“Trade between the EU and the U.S. is unparalleled and must be conducted with mutual respect, not threats. We are ready to defend our interests,” he added.

Trump expressed frustration yesterday with the pace of trade negotiations between the EU and the U.S., saying his plan to raise tariffs on June 1 is set.

He wrote on social media: “Our talks with (the EU) are going nowhere,” adding that there would be no tariffs on products built or manufactured in the U.S.

“I’m not looking for a deal — we already have one,” he later told reporters, before adding that a major European investment in the U.S. could make him open to a delay.

The EU is one of Washington’s largest trading partners, having exported goods worth more than $600 billion (€528 billion) to the U.S. last year and imported goods worth $370 billion, according to U.S. government data.

Reacting to Trump’s threats, European governments warned that higher tariffs would be damaging for both sides.

“We don’t have to go down this road,” said Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, adding that negotiations are the best and only sustainable path forward.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Saint-Martin stated: “We maintain the same position: de-escalation, but we are ready to respond.”

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said the bloc “must do everything” to reach a solution with the U.S.

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed support for the EU’s strategy in trade talks, saying “we’ve already seen that tariffs can go up and down during negotiations with the U.S.”

In early April, Trump announced tariffs against a long list of countries, including a 20% tax on most EU goods sold in the U.S.

Shortly afterward, he paused the higher tariffs for three months — until July 8 — to allow further negotiations, but maintained a base 10% tax against U.S. trade partners.