Trump sets July 4 deadline for EU on trade deal compliance

Donald Trump said the United States will sharply increase tariffs on European goods if the European Union fails to comply with the terms of a previously agreed trade deal by July 4.

The warning followed a phone call between Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission.

In a statement issued after the call, Trump linked trade tensions with broader geopolitical issues, including Iran, while pressing the EU to meet its commitments under what he described as a major bilateral agreement.

"I had a great call with The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. We discussed many topics, including that we are completely united that Iran can never have a Nuclear Weapon. We agreed that a regime that kills its own people cannot control a bomb that can kill millions. 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! I agreed to give her until our Country’s 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels," he wrote.

By Tamilla Hasanova