The European Union’s leaders on Thursday considered new US trade deals proposals ahead of the July 9 deadline for Donald Trump’s tariffs, in a Brussels summit that also addressed the Mercosur trade agreement, sanctions on Russia, and avenues to restructuring the World Trade Organization.
European Union leaders discussed new proposals from the United States on a trade deal at a summit in Brussels on Thursday, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen not ruling out tariff talks could fail and saying “all options remain on the table”.
Time is running out for the bloc to find a common position before a respite on higher tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump expires on July 9, which could hammer exporters from cars to pharmaceuticals.
European leaders were meeting to decide whether they want to push for a quick trade agreement or keep fighting for a better deal, with the EU’s two biggest economies apparently at odds.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the EU to do a “quick and simple” trade deal rather than a “slow and complicated” one.
“Our goodwill should not be seen as a weakness,” Macron added.
“You all know that the WTO doesn’t work any more,” he said.
‘Clear political message’
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