EU Trade Chief Plans Washington Talks Ahead of US 50% Tariff Deadline

European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is traveling to Washington for urgent negotiations aimed at averting the imposition of President Donald Trump's planned 50% tariffs on most EU goods, set to take effect on July 9. The talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick represent a last effort to secure a framework agreement that would resolve ongoing trade disputes and remove specific tariffs on EU exports. The EU has received initial draft proposals from the U.S. and is working actively toward a deal that is fair and provides predictability for businesses on both sides. If no agreement or extension is reached, the EU plans to retaliate with tariffs on $21 billion of U.S. goods shortly after the U.S. deadline. The European Commission also firmly rejected any U.S. demands to alter its recent tech regulations, including the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, which target large U.S. tech companies. Overall, the negotiations underscore the strategic importance of transatlantic trade relations amid heightened tariff threats under President Trump’s administration.