Brussels: With the tariff clock ticking, the European Union remains hopeful that it can seal a trade deal with the United States by July 9, after what EU officials described as a “good exchange” between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, clarity on whether this exchange yielded a concrete breakthrough remains elusive.
As the U.S. barrels toward a self-imposed deadline that could usher in sweeping tariff hikes, the EU is scrambling to protect its industries from what many fear could become a full-blown transatlantic trade war.
“We still want to reach a deal. We want to avoid tariffs. We are aiming for a win-win, not a lose-lose,” an EU spokesperson told reporters at the Commission’s daily briefing.
Trump, who has revived his hardline trade strategy in his second term, has said that countries will be officially notified of new tariff rates by July 9, with the new duties taking effect on August 1. While that gives a three-week window for last-minute diplomacy, businesses and governments alike are on edge.
He also issued a warning to BRICS nations including India, Brazil, China, Russia, and South Africa, plus six newer members threatening an extra 10% tariff on nations aligning with what he branded as “anti-American” policies. The warning has complicated diplomatic dynamics, even for EU members who are trying to walk a tightrope between maintaining Western unity and managing global economic realities.
Caught in the crosshairs of Trump’s tariff agenda, the EU is internally divided. Some factions within Brussels push for a quick, minimalistic trade pact to shield vulnerable sectors like automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and machinery, while others advocate for leveraging the EU’s economic weight to bargain for better terms even if it means confronting short-term pain.
Officials confirmed that von der Leyen held emergency consultations over the weekend with Germany, France, and Italy, the EU’s industrial powerhouses. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been vocal in pushing for immediate action.
“In trade, time is money in the truest sense,” a German government spokesperson stated. “We believe a decision within the next 24 to 48 hours is critical.”
Without a deal, U.S. tariffs on European imports would rise from 10% to 20%, significantly harming industries across the continent.
As Trump singles out BRICS for “anti-American alignment,” Moscow hit back, saying BRICS is not a bloc aimed at confrontation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that BRICS remains a platform for cooperative multipolar engagement, not antagonism.
“BRICS has never been and will never be directed against any third countries,” Peskov said, dismissing Trump’s remarks as baseless and provocative.
With fewer than 48 hours left to finalize a deal, global attention is now focused on whether Brussels and Washington can bridge their differences before the July 9 deadline. Trump’s looming tariffs — and his unpredictable negotiation style have left diplomats working overtime to find common ground.
Whether a deal is struck or the EU becomes the next victim in Trump’s widening tariff campaign, one thing is clear: the outcome will reshape global trade alignments and the EU’s economic trajectory for years to come.