Merz urges swift EU-U.S. trade deal before looming tariff deadline

With the tariff deadline fast approaching, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing for a swift and straightforward trade agreement between the EU and the U.S., as both sides continue talks to avoid a potential economic standoff.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday called for a "quick and simple" trade agreement with the United States, stressing the urgency as the July 9 deadline for additional U.S. tariffs on EU goods nears.

“We have less than two weeks until July 9,” Merz said at a press conference during the EU summit in Brussels. He emphasized the need for swift action, noting, “We all agree that we must reach a quick result — there is no disagreement.”

His comments followed EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement that the bloc had received the latest negotiation draft from Washington and was currently reviewing it.

U.S. President Donald Trump had previously threatened to impose a 50% tariff on EU imports starting June 1, citing stalled negotiations. However, after a conversation with von der Leyen, he postponed the implementation to July 9.

On Thursday, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt hinted that Trump may still extend the deadline, saying the date was "not critical" and the final decision rests with the president.

Talks between the EU and U.S. are ongoing as both sides seek to finalize a deal and avoid a trade escalation.

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