EU eyes deal to avert Trump’s tariff hike

A senior German lawmaker voiced hope on Sunday that the EU and U.S. can reach a partial agreement and delay planned tariff hikes, as President Donald Trump threatens to raise duties on EU imports to 30% by August 1.

Juergen Hardt, deputy leader of Germany’s CDU/CSU parliamentary bloc, told Reuters the tariff standoff is entering a decisive phase. “I’m betting that at least a partial agreement and a further postponement will be reached before August 1,” he said, warning that steep tariffs would raise prices and inflation in the U.S.

Trump initially imposed a 20% duty on EU goods in April, later suspending it in favour of a 90-day negotiation period. That truce expires on August 1, after which tariffs on EU and Mexican goods could jump to 30%.

Hardt argued that the U.S. trade deficit is not caused by EU protectionism but is offset by America’s global dominance in services, especially IT. “Fewer imports mean the USA would have to work more and harder to maintain its prosperity,” he said, adding that it remains unclear if that is what Americans really want.

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