US trade deal eludes Europe days out from Trump’s deadline, sources say

Europe Struggles to Finalize Trade Deal Ahead of Trump’s Deadline

By Philip Blenkinsop and Julia Payne

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union negotiators have failed so far to achieve a breakthrough in trade negotiations with the Trump administration and may now seek to extend the status quo to avoid tariff hikes, five EU diplomats briefed on the talks said on Friday.

The EU had already dropped hopes of a locking in a comprehensive trade agreement ahead of Trump’s July 9 deadline, but following the Washington talks it was not clear if it would even secure a lighter agreement in principle.

The Commission told EU envoys on Friday afternoon that it believed the United States was willing to "pause" the current tariffs in place for partners with which it reached an initial agreement, with possible tariff relief later.

Without a preliminary agreement, broad U.S. tariffs on most imports would rise from their current 10% to the rate set out by Trump on April 2. In the EU's case that would be 20%.

Two of the EU diplomats who spoke to Reuters said the Commission appeared to be pushing more for the first option, to extend the status quo, and then seek to negotiate further.

U.S. Treasury Scott Bessent said on Thursday negotiations were set to continue into the weekend.

The EU currently faces 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium exports to the United States, 25% tariffs on cars and car parts and the 10% levy on most other products.

The EU has agreed a package of 21 billion euros ($24.7 billion) of countermeasures, but not put them into force. The bloc is also looking into a second package, originally envisaged at 95 billion euros. That has now been whittled down to 72 billion euros after lobbying from various EU members, two of the diplomats said.

($1 = 0.8490 euros)

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Julia Payne; Editing by Sharon Singleton)