US Commerce Secretary Lutnick signals EU trade pact will trail other deals

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the European Union is likely to be the last trading partner to finalise a deal with Washington, even as the administration moves swiftly to conclude tariff agreements with others.

Speaking on American TV, Lutnick expressed optimism about reaching an accord with the EU but acknowledged it remains one of the most difficult negotiations, Caliber.Az reports, referring to foreign media.

“I’m optimistic that we can get there with Europe. But Europe will probably be the very, very end,” he said.

According to Lutnick, the EU only became more responsive after President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs to 50% — a move he postponed until July 9 to allow time for further talks. “Europe was more than thorny” before Trump’s warning, Lutnick said. “Then all of a sudden they got a little religion and made a proper offer.”

The US and EU have been locked in high-level negotiations since agreeing two weeks ago to accelerate talks. EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic has been in regular contact with Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Despite this, sources familiar with the matter say EU officials are sceptical that a full agreement can be reached by the July 9 deadline. They see that date as a target for outlining the broad principles of a deal, which could then be finalised later.

Lutnick, meanwhile, said agreements with other countries could begin rolling out as early as next week. “Next week, and the week after, and the week after,” he said, referring to expected deals.

US officials have long voiced frustration with the EU’s negotiating process, which is complicated by the bloc’s 27-member structure and diverging priorities. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking to Bloomberg Television in May, said most US trading partners had been negotiating “in very good faith” — with the notable exception of the EU, which he accused of having a “collective action problem.”

While EU negotiators have floated proposals for mutual tariff elimination on many goods, they have also struggled to understand the full scope of US demands. Trump’s criticisms extend beyond tariffs, targeting non-tariff measures such as value-added taxes and what the administration sees as excessive EU regulatory pressure on American tech firms.