Trump gives European Union deadline of July 4 to ratify agreement or face higher tariffs

(Patria) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the European Union must ratify a trade agreement with the United States by July 4 or face "much higher" tariffs.

Trump said he spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about it and "agreed to give her a deadline until the 250th birthday of our country or, unfortunately, our tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels," AFP reported.

The July 4 holiday this year marks 250 years since the American colonies declared independence from British rule.

Von der Leyen said on Thursday that the European Union has made "good progress" towards ratifying the agreement by early July.

"We remain fully committed, on both sides, to its implementation," she added on social media platform X.

The EU and the US reached an agreement last July, setting tariffs on most European products at fifteen percent. However, Trump was dissatisfied with the speed of its implementation.

The situation became complicated after the US Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing a wide range of his tariffs, including those on the European Union.

The Trump administration has since applied a temporary tariff of ten percent while seeking more permanent ways to revive its trade agenda. However, the court ruling did not affect sector-specific tariffs such as those on automobiles, which were reduced to fifteen percent under the agreement with the European Union.

While the agreement awaits ratification by EU member states, Trump promised last week to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25 percent, accusing the bloc of failing to uphold its side of the deal.

Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, said it wants to maintain "positive momentum" in talks with European parliamentarians on May 19.

"I have patiently waited for the EU to fulfill its side of the historic trade agreement we reached at Turnberry in Scotland, the biggest trade deal ever!" Trump posted on his platform Truth Social.

"A promise was made that the EU would fulfill their side of the agreement and under the Agreement, reduce their tariffs to ZERO!"

At the end of March, European parliamentarians gave the green light to the tariff agreement with Trump, but requested additional protective measures. Despite the conditional approval of the European Parliament, the agreement must be negotiated with EU member states before the bloc can implement it.