Trump threatens EU with ‘much higher’ tariffs if no trade deal signed by new deadline

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Small Business Summit in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 4, 2026. Kylie Cooper | Reuters President Donald Trump has said he will give the European Union until July 4 to ratify its trade agreement with the U.S., threatening to raise tariffs to "much higher" levels if the 27-nation bloc fails to do so. In a post on Truth Social late Thursday, Trump issued a new trade deadline during a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, one in which he said both leaders agreed Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon. The conversation took place shortly after the U.S. president pledged to raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the EU to 25%, accusing the bloc of not complying with the terms of the deal struck at his golf course in Scotland last July. "I've been waiting patiently for the EU to fulfill their side of the Historic Trade Deal we agreed in Turnberry, Scotland, the largest Trade Deal, ever! A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump said. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels," he added, referring to July 4. It wasn't immediately clear whether Trump was indicating that the tariffs would apply to all EU goods or whether the increase would only apply to autos. …